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The Awulale Iron Metallogenic Belt (AIMB) has developed many medium–large iron deposits, of which the Zhibo iron deposit is selected as the research object in this paper. The Zhibo deposit's ore primarily consists of magnetite as the main mineral, accompanied by extensive epidotization. The mineral assemblage includes diopside, albite, actinolite, epidote, chlorite, K-feldspar, quartz, calcite, chalcopyrite, and pyrite. Magnetite is classified into two groups based on sulfide content and mineral assemblage (MagI for sulfide-free and MagII for sulfide-rich ores). Two-stage mineralization of magnetite has been identified based on mineral assemblages and paragenesis, including the magmatic stage MagI and hydrothermal stage MagII. Mag I shows inhomogeneous backscattered electron (BSE) textures and consists of BSE-light and -dark domains (Mag I-L and MagI-D). Seven subtypes of magnetite have been recognized in this deposit. MagI-L and MagI-D have formed in the magmatic stage and show BSE images in light and dark colors, respectively. MagI-L is anhedral to subhedral and is inclusion-free. MagI-D has mainly replaced MagI-L along fractures and contains inclusions and pores. MagII has formed in the hydrothermal stage and is characterized by coupled dissolution–reprecipitation (DRP) textures. It can be divided into five sub-generations, that is, MagII-1, MagII-2, MagII-3, MagII-L, and MagII-D. MagII-1, MagII-2, and MagII-3 comprise the core–mantle–rim texture, while MagII-L and MagII-D comprise the core–rim texture. MagII-1 is BSE-light and is enriched with inclusions and pores. MagII-2 has partly replaced MagII-1 and exhibits oscillatory zoning under BSE imaging. It also contains inclusions. BSE-light MagII-3 occurs as overgrowth along MagII-2 margins and is inclusion-free. MagI magnetite is enriched with V, Cr, and Ni, whereas MagII is enriched with W, Ta, Nb, Sr, Sb, Sn, Y, Zr, Mg, Al, and Ti, indicating a decreased temperature of magnetite formation. MagI-L crystallizes from the original magma, while MagI-D is formed from the residual magma enriched with incompatible elements. MagII crystallizes from later multiple hydrothermal activities through the dissolution of early magnetite and the re-precipitation of later magnetite or from MagI-D which has later undergone a hydrothermal overprinting process. According to the texture and chemical composition of magnetite from the Zhibo deposit, we suggest that the Zhibo iron deposit was formed from the initial magmatic origin and then underwent a hydrothermal overprinting process. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

• Because of the absence of radiation, 3D MRI has promising applications in future pelvic studies, especially in pregnant women. • In this paper, first 3D CT and MRI reconstructed pelvic measurements were analyzed. • 3D MRI and 3D CT pelvimetry have good agreement and reproducibility, indicating that 3D MRI is reliable for pelvimetry. To compare 3D models based on magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) and 3D models based on computed tomography (CT) in pelvimetry. A retrospective analysis of 141 patients who underwent both pelvic 3D MRI and 3D CT pelvimetry for gynecological diseases from December 2009 to October 2020 was performed. The two pelvimetry methods were compared by paired Student's t test, Pearson's correlation coefficient, Bland–Altman analysis and intraclass correlation coefficient (ICC). The differences between methods for each diameter were statistically significant, except for those of the posterior sagittal diameter of the pelvic inlet (t:-0.71, P = 0.5) and the anteroposterior pelvic outlet diameter (t:0.02, P = 0.98). 3D MRI and 3D CT pelvimetry strongly correlated with each other (r: min 0.7, max: 0.96, P < 0.01). The Bland–Altman results indicate that the difference points of each pelvic diameter line greater than 95 % are within the 95 % limits of agreement. The ICC was good to very good for all pelvimetric measurements using either MRI-3D (ICC: 0.64–0.98) or CT-3D (ICC: 0.72–0.98) between the two readers. 3D MRI and 3D CT pelvimetry have good agreement and reproducibility, indicating that 3D MRI is reliable for pelvimetry. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Kidney transplantation is the gold standard for the treatment of end-stage renal diseases (ESRDs). However, the scarcity of donor kidneys has caused more and more ESRD patients to be stuck on the waiting list for transplant surgery. Improving the survival rate for renal grafts is an alternative solution to the shortage of donor kidneys. Therefore, real-time monitoring of the surgical process is crucial to the success of kidney transplantation, but efficient methods and techniques are lacking. Herein, a fluorescence technology based on bright, photostable and long-circulating aggregation-induced emission (AIE) active NIR-II nano-contrast agent DIPT-ICF nanoparticles for the whole-process monitoring and evaluation of renal transplantation has been reported. In the aggregated state, DIPT-ICF exhibits superior photophysical properties compared with the commercial dyes IR-26 and IR-1061. Besides, the long-circulating characteristic of the AIE nano-contrast agent helps to achieve renal angiography in kidney retrieval surgery, donor kidney quality evaluation, diagnosing vascular and ureteral complications, and assessment of renal graft reperfusion beyond renovascular reconstruction, which considerably outperforms the clinically approved indocyanine green (ICG). [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Sulfides with different distribution states may have different effects on steel properties. How to separately count each kind of sulfide remains a question. In the current study, sulfides in 1215 free‐cutting and 416 free‐cutting stainless steel are counted by Image‐Pro Plus image‐processing software. The sulfides can be divided into three categories, that is, cluster‐like sulfides, chain‐like sulfides, and individual sulfides. The features of each kind of sulfide are summarized and an automatic sulfide classification method is proposed. By using this method, sulfides in a metallographic photograph of 1215 steel are successfully classified into three types and counted separately. The quantity percentage of chain‐like, cluster‐like, and individual sulfides is 24.65%, 56.79%, and 18.56%, respectively, while the area percentage of different types of sulfides is 34.33%, 52.80%, and 12.87%. Individual sulfides have the highest‐quantity percentage of sulfides with a diameter smaller than 3 μm and with an area smaller than 10 μm2. Through this method, different types of sulfides can be deeply analyzed. It offers reliable data to evaluate whether the sulfides are well controlled or not, providing a guideline for the improvement of sulfide control methods. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Introduction and hypothesis: The area around the sacral promontory (SP) is the targeted location of various pelvic operations. We examined the internal iliac vein (IIV) configurations around the SP by computed tomography angiography (CTA) three-dimensional (3D) reconstruction to describe its anatomy and provide accurate anatomical parameters for relevant operations to reduce intraoperative vascular injury. Methods: We retrospectively studied 2078 CTA 3D model datasets from Nanfang Hospital patients examined for gynecological diseases from December 2009 to October 2020. The IIVs of the above cases were divided into standard and variant IIVs, and variant IIVs were subdivided into different subtypes. To compare the size of the avascular area around the SP between standard and variant IIVs, we selected the two subtypes with the highest variation rate for comparison with the standard IIV type. Results: The most common types of variant IIVs were 5a (5.15%) and 3a (5.05%). The results showed larger values in the standard group than in the 3a and 5a groups for the confluence of common iliac vein (CCIV) height (37.73±12.05 vs. 28.93±10.17 vs. 27.27±7.58 mm, P < 0.05), distance between the iliac vessels (49.47±9.47 mm vs. 37.08±9.36 vs. 37.73±8.94 mm, P < 0.05), and SP exposure width (44.94±6.39 mm vs. 36.83±8.29 vs. 36.93±7.91, P < 0.05). Conclusions: Variant IIVs may increase the risk of surgery by reducing the avascular area compared with standard IIVs. Therefore, when operating around the SP, special attention should be given to variant IIVs and avoiding vascular injury. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The aim of this study was to investigate the prevalence of anemia in twin pregnancies and the influence of anemia on maternal and neonatal outcomes. This retrospective study included twin pregnant women who delivered in a tertiary hospital in China from January 2018 to December 2018. Patients were divided by WHO criteria (hemoglobin <11.0 g/dL): the anemic and nonanemic groups. Patients with anemia were further classified as recovered or unrecovered subgroup after oral iron therapy. Maternal and neonatal outcomes in women carrying twins were compared using Student's t test and the chi-squared test or the Fisher exact test. Univariable and multivariable logistic regression models were used to determine the association of maternal and neonatal characteristics with anemia. Linear regression analysis was used to estimate mean birth weight and gestational week. The prevalence of anemia was 42.6% (182/427) in twin pregnancies. The anemic group had higher rates of low 1-minute Apgar score (4.4% vs. 1.8%, p =.028), perinatal death (1.9% vs. 0.2%, p =.012) and neonatal intensive care unit (NICU) admission (27.2% vs. 20.2%, p =.017; adjusted OR , 1.478; 95% CI [1.07, 2.044]). The recovered subgroup had lower NICU admission rate (13.5% vs. 30.3%, p =.006; OR , 0.388; 95% CI [0.186, 0.809]), higher gestational week and birth weight (β, 0.954 week; 95% CI [0.114, 1.794] and β, 171.01 g; 95% CI [9.894, 332.126] respectively). The prevalence of anemia in twin gestation is high. Anemia is associated with adverse neonatal outcomes, and correction of anemia significantly improved the pregnancy outcomes. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Phlorotannins are a kind of polyphenolics extracted from brown seaweed, which have a series of biological activities. It is worth mentioning that the antioxidant activity of phlorotannins has been widely used in the fields of medicines, cosmetics and food. And there are various chemical and biological methods for evaluating the antioxidant activity of phlorotannins. Due to the lack of accuracy and authenticity of chemiluminescence, cell models gradually become the mainstream method based on more realistic biological environment. Based on the above reasons, this paper summarized the research progress of phlorotannins in cell models, potential mechanism of antioxidant activity and factors affecting antioxidant activity of phlorotannins in recent years. The aim is to provide valuable experience for the future development of marine resources, the research and application of antioxidant phlorotannins and the treatment of human oxidative stress diseases. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The Wulong gold deposit (> 80 t Au) is located at the northeastern margin of the North China Craton (NCC). Gold in the most economically important quartz veins (Stages 2 and 3) is associated with a varied assemblage of Bi and Te minerals. Stage 2 is characterized by, in a temporal order, native gold-native bismuth-maldonite-hedleyite, bismuthinite-Bi-sulfotellurides, electrum-hessite-Bi-Pb-Ag sulfosalts, Bi-Pb sulfosalts, and Bi-Pb-sulfotellurides. All of these minerals except maldonite, electrum, hessite, and Bi-sulfosalts are present in Stage 3 veins, which also contain jonassonite and unnamed minerals with stoichiometry of Bi8Te3 and Bi5Te3. These complex Bi mineral assemblages resulted from changes in Pb, Ag, Te and Bi concentrations in reduced hydrothermal fluids both locally and temporally, from Stage 2 to 3. Texturally, approximately 85% of the gold grains are associated with almost all Bi minerals in each main-stage mineralization. Quartz-vein ores from Stages 2 and 3 have high Bi concentrations (up to 7332 ppm) and show a positive correlation between Bi and Au, with Bi/Au ratios > 10. These textural and geochemical associations, together with the occurrence of numerous droplet-like blebs and small inclusion trails of native bismuth and Bi-tellurides with native gold, maldonite, or jonassonite, suggest that Bi-rich melts may have formed from the hydrothermal fluids of Stages 2 and 3, and acted as an Au scavenger in a complex Bi-Au-Pb-Ag-Te system. Hence, the intimate association of Bi and Au at Wulong is the result of Au enrichment via the liquid bismuth collector mechanism. Unlike Wulong, however, other deposits in the NCC, such as Yangzhaiyu (Xiaoqinling district), Guilaizhuang (Jiaodong district) and Dongping (Jidong district), are characterized by low Bi concentrations, and are much richer in Te than Bi, so these systems could not generate low-melting point Bi-rich polymetallic melts. The low-sulfur Bi-Au-Pb-Ag-Te association at Wulong is consistent with that observed in reduced intrusion-related gold systems elsewhere and suggests that hydrothermal fluids may have been derived from the co-located Early Cretaceous diorite-granite porphyry dyke swarm. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Aim: To investigate the therapeutic effect of co‐administration of tacrolimus (TAC) and low‐molecular‐weight heparin (LMWH) or LMWH only on pregnancy outcomes in the female with a history of implantation failure and elevated peripheral blood natural killer (pNK) cell proportion in frozen‐thawed embryo transfer cycles. Methods: To evaluate the pregnancy parameters for 249 patients with ≥2 implantation failures and pNK cell proportion ≥12% by analyzing a retrospective observational cohort study. Sixty patients had received the co‐administration TAC and LMWH (TAC & LMWH group), 85 others had only taken LMWH (LWMH group), and the rest did not take any particular drugs (control group). Results: The experimental finding indicated that the TAC & LMWH group and the LMWH group showed higher clinical pregnancy rates than the control group (p < 0.05), and TAC & LMWH group had a much higher live birth rate. According to the binary logistic regression analysis, the combination of TAC and LMWH was conducive to clinical pregnancy and live birth rate and reduced the possibility of miscarriage. It would not affect the result of spontaneous abortion and live birth, although the LMWH was only beneficial to clinical pregnancy. In addition, these findings were similar for these three groups' obstetrical and neonatal outcomes. Conclusions: The combination of TAC and LMWH can improve clinical pregnancy and live birth rates and reduce the risk of spontaneous miscarriage in patients with a history of implantation failure and elevated pNK ratio. LMWH is also beneficial to clinical pregnancy. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

There is a lack of appropriate methods for preparing bacterial RNA‐seq library with ultra‐low amount of RNA. To address this issue, we developed miniBac‐seq, a strand‐specific method for high‐quality library construction from sub‐nanogram of total RNA, which is 100‐fold lower than the current benchmark kit and dramatically reduces preparation cost ($28 + $15 × samples). We further demonstrated the high sensitivity of miniBac‐seq via detecting more than 500 genes from amount of total RNA equivalent to that of a single bacterial cell. Finally, we profiled the transcriptome of growth‐arrested bacteria in isogenic culture of Escherichia coli. This subpopulation of bacteria is generally low in abundance but is a potent reservoir of antibiotic persistence, and their gene expression has been largely unknown due to technical limitations. Using miniBac‐seq, we identified potential molecular driver towards arrested growth as well as antibiotic tolerance. Our method thus expands the capacity to quantify bacterial transcriptome in situ, which is useful to the understanding of bacterial physiology and regulation in their native contexts. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

A direct current (DC)‐driven transient liquid phase bonding strategy was proposed for joining 3 mol% Y2O3‐stabilized ZrO2 (3YSZ) and GH3128 superalloy with a Ni interlayer. The DC application triggered the rapid formation and diffusion of metallic Zr in 3YSZ and chemical reactions at the 3YSZ/Ni interface. The formed Ni–Zr eutectic liquid well wetted 3YSZ and hence completely filled the bonding gap in seconds. Eutectic structures in the joints were eventually transformed into Ni–Zr intermetallic compounds or a Ni‐based solid solution. The remaining Ni interlayer effectively alleviated residual stress through plastic deformation during cooling stage, and thereby contributed substantially to the high joint strength. Under the joining conditions of a current density of 30 mA/mm2, an energization time of 30 s, and a joining temperature of 1100°C, the obtained joints exhibited a maximum shear strength of 188 ± 8 MPa. This paper proposes an economical and reliable method for the rapid preparation of YSZ/metal joints for high‐temperature applications. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Timing of the major Baiyun gold deposit (~ 70 t Au) in the northeastern North China Craton is controversial. A textural and geochronological study of high-grade gold ores identifies three generations of xenotime (Xtm-1, Xtm-2 and Xtm-3), even in single grains. The oldest Xtm-1, in grain cores, is of metamorphic origin, with very high U and U/Th ratios, and hump-shaped, HREE-enriched patterns with maximum normalized values at Yb and large negative Eu anomalies. It is dated at 1856 ± 6 Ma, consistent with its crystallization during regional metamorphism related to cratonization. In contrast, 244 ± 2 Ma Xtm-2 overgrowths are of hydrothermal origin, having low U and U/Th ratios and hump-shaped, MREE-enriched patterns with maximum normalized values at Ho and negligible Eu anomalies. Xtm-2 records a previously unrecognized Middle Triassic hydrothermal episode. Xtm-3, in equilibrium with native gold-hosting pyrite and rutile, is also hydrothermal. The Xtm-3 domains have similar U, U/Th ratios, and MREE-enriched patterns to Xtm-2, but a younger crystallization age of 231 ± 1 Ma. Associated rutile grains that show close textural associations with auriferous pyrite and native gold have an in situ SIMS U–Pb an intercept age of 229 ± 4 Ma, consistent with that of Xtm-3. Collectively, these reliable ages indicate that gold mineralization at Baiyun occurred at ca. 230 Ma, predating the emplacement of granite intrusions by more than 3 million years. Both the Middle Triassic hydrothermal event (~244 Ma) and the Late Triassic gold mineralization event (~230 Ma) lie within the temporal window of collisional tectonics in the host orogen. In combination, the new geochronology and fluid-inclusion and geological data support Bayun's classification as an orogenic gold deposit. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

[Display omitted] • A core–shell fluorescence sensor for the detection of DPA has been developed. • Fluorescent dyes HPTS are coated in silica nanoparticles as a reference signal. • Guanine mononucleotide europium coordination polymers are as a response signal. • A visual fluorescence detection platform was built based on a smartphone. A novel core–shell based lanthanide ratiometric fluorescent probe is designed for the rapid and sensitive detection of 2, 6-pyridine dicarboxylic acid (DPA), which is the biomarker of Bacillus anthracis. The fluorescent dye molecule 8-hydroxypyrene-1,3,6-trisulfonic acid trisodium salt (HPTS) was encapsulated in silica nanoparticles as a reference signal and externally connected with guanine mononucleotide europium coordination polymers (Eu/GMP) as a response signal so as to construct a double-emission fluorescent sensor. The visual detection was enabled by the fluorescence color change from green to red under an UV lamp with the addition of DPA. In addition, the RGB auxiliary detection platform was built using color scanning software of smartphone. This work presents a novel and efficient method for detecting anthrax biomarkers. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

A comparison of hydrothermal monazite and rutile geochronology in the gold deposits Monazite and rutile are common accessory minerals in different types of gold deposits, and their U-Pb isotopes are often used to determine the ore formation ages of gold mineralization ([8]; [53]; [48]). Recent researchers have elaborated on the chronology and genesis of ore-hosting granites, ore deposit geology, structural characteristics, gold mineralization ages, fluid inclusions, and H-O-S-Pb isotopes of the Katbasu gold-copper deposit ([19]; [24]; [79]; [15]; [40]; [80]). Keywords: Hydrothermal monazite; rutile; geochronology; Katbasu Au-Cu deposit; Western Tianshan EN Hydrothermal monazite rutile geochronology Katbasu Au-Cu deposit Western Tianshan 1201 1215 15 06/01/22 20220601 NES 220601 Introduction The formation ages of ore deposits are critical for understanding their genesis and making exploration strategies. As a newly discovered large Au-Cu deposit in the western Tianshan, the genetic type of the Katbasu deposit remains controversial, with some researchers relating them to orogenic gold deposits ([79]; [80]) and others interpreting them as magmatic-hydrothermal gold deposits ([15]; [40]). [Extracted from the article]

The Dakalasu No.1 pegmatitic rare-element deposit is a representative of Be-Nb-Ta pegmatites in Altai, Xinjiang, China. Beryl is the most important beryllium-carrying mineral in Dakalasu No.1 pegmatite. To constrain the concentration mechanism of Be, we conducted a study of the textural relationships and chemical compositions (major and trace elements) of beryl, along with microthermometry and Raman spectroscopy on beryl-hosted fluid inclusions. Two generations of beryl were recognized. The early beryl I was formed in the magmatic stage, whereas the late beryl IIa and IIb were formed in the magmatic-hydrothermal stage. Lithium and Cs contents increased from beryl I, beryl IIa, to beryl IIb, whereas Mg and Rb contents decreased. Scandium, V, and Ga contents of beryl IIa are similar to beryl IIb, but different in beryl I. Titanium is enriched in beryl IIa. The high FeO contents and Na/Cs ratios of beryl (I, IIa, and IIb) reveal the low degree of differentiation evolution of the Dakalasu No.1 pegmatite. Two types of melt inclusions and four types of fluid inclusions were identified in beryl IIa, IIb, and associated quartz. The microthermometry results indicated that beryl II is formed at 500 °C–700 °C, and 200 MPa–300 MPa. The Dakalasu No.1 pegmatite melt is enriched in volatiles, such as B, F, and CO2, evidenced by a large amount of tourmaline in the wall zone, the occurrence of a variety of tiny cryolite (Na3AlF6) inclusions, and CO2-rich fluid inclusions in beryl IIa. The enrichment mechanism of Be may be related to the crystallization of beryl at highly undercooled states of melt, and melt–melt–fluid immiscibility during the evolution and differentiation of the melt. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The textures and compositions of hydrothermal apatite grains have been reported in many iron oxide-apatite (IOA), porphyry, and rare-earth elements (REE) polymetallic deposits. However, such information for apatite in hydrothermal gold deposit is not available. In this study, we present integrated textural, elemental, and in situ oxygen isotopic data of hydrothermal apatite grains from the Hatu gold deposit (56t Au, average grade: 5 g/t) in the West Junggar, Northwest China, to investigate the detailed mineralization processes and nature of ore-forming fluids. Hydrothermal apatite is present within the quartz-sulfide ores at the Hatu gold deposit. Apatite grains of the Hatu gold ores contain abundant fluid inclusions and fine sulfide crystals, indicating that they are closely related to gold mineralization. Three types of hydrothermal fluorapatite (Ap1, Ap2, and Ap3) were revealed by Cathodoluminescence (CL) imaging. The Ap1 and Ap2 formed in the auriferous ore-forming stage, whereas the Ap3 formed in the post-ore stage. The three types of apatite have distinct total REE concentrations (216–751 ppm for Ap1, 14–120 ppm for Ap2, and 914–1422 ppm for Ap3) as well as chondrite-normalized REE distribution patterns. The textures and compositions of different apatites are inconsistent with dissolution–re-precipitation processes but instead point to three episodes of apatite formation in the Hatu hydrothermal system. The Ap3 has different REE and lower Eu/Eu* values (0.97–1.72) than Ap1 (1.34–4.50) and Ap2 (1.69–4.95), indicating a change of fluid compositions and a decrease of oxygen fugacity from the auriferous ore-forming stage to post-ore stage. All three types of apatite (Ap1, Ap2, and Ap3) show relatively high and consistent oxygen isotope compositions ranging from 14.2 ± 0.3‰ to 15.2 ± 0.2‰, from 14.5 ± 0.2‰ to 15.0 ± 0.3‰, and from 13.8 ± 0.3‰ to 15.4 ± 0.2‰, respectively. Their calculated δ18Ofluid values are higher than magmatic–hydrothermal fluids but consistent with those from metamorphic fluids derived from meta-basalts. The near-zero δ34S values of hydrothermal pyrite grains in the gold ores are much higher than those of pyrite framboid grains in the ore-hosted sedimentary rocks (− 41.1 to − 24.3‰), suggesting the sulfur may be derived from meta-basalts rather than sedimentary rocks in the mining area. Taken together, we suggest that Hatu is an orogenic gold deposit formed by fluids and metals derived from metamorphic de-volatilization of meta-basalts at depth. Our study highlights that a combination of CL imaging, in situ trace elements, and oxygen isotope compositions of hydrothermal apatite can be a novel and powerful tool to trace the nature of ore-forming fluids in the hydrothermal gold deposits. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

[Display omitted] • The Li, Ge, and Ti contents in the quartz and the Ge/Ti ratios indicate that the leucogranite is a highly evolved magma. • The Koktokay No.3 deposit underwent two cooling stages (rapid cooling and slow slow cooling). • The emplacement depth of leucogranite was approximately 9.5 km (7–14 km). Koktokay No. 3 pegmatite is a globally renowned rare metal deposit. Recently, rare metal-enriched leucogranite was identified within this deposit. The leucogranite is locally cut by No. 3 pegmatite and scattered as fragments among the pegmatite in some outcrops. In this study, we aimed to investigate the emplacement depth, thermal history, and evolution process of leucogranite based on quartz chemical composition and apatite thermochronology. Li, Al, P, Ge are the higher content elements in leucogranite quartz, and Ti is the lower content element (approximately 38.7, 178, 23.9, 2.7, and 2.0 ppm, respectively). The Al, Ti, and Li contents decreased from the core to the rim of the quartz. The leucogranite quartz compositions have a high Ge/Ti ratio, similar to that of the quartz in the Li-Cs-Ta pegmatites, particularly the Koktokay No. 3 pegmatite. This similarity indicates that the leucogranite was formed by a highly evolved melt. Using laser ablation-inductively coupled plasma-mass spectrometry, the U–Pb age of leucogranite apatite was determined as 189.4 ± 6.8 Ma, which is substantially younger than the previous columbite U–Pb age of No. 3 pegmatite, suggesting that the magmatic-thermal activity of No. 3 pegmatite had interfered with the apatite U–Pb closure system. The apatite low-temperature thermochronology results showed that the thermal history of leucogranite can be divided into two cooling stages: rapid cooling stage (180–155 Ma, 9.6–10.6 ℃/m.y.) and slow cooling stage (from 155 Ma to the present day, 0.8–1.0 ℃/m.y.). According to the thermal history, the exhumation and erosion of the Koktokay No. 3 rare-metal deposit is at least 5–6 km long. Leucogranite formation pressure is approximately 2.5 kbar (1.8–3.7 kbar), and the emplacement depth approximately 9.5 km (7–14 km). [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Telomerase (TE) is a promising diagnostic and prognostic biomarker for many cancers. Quantification of TE activity in living cells is of great significance in biomedical and clinical research. Conventional fluorescence-based sensors for quantification of intracellular TE may suffer from problems of fast photobleaching and auto-fluorescence of some endogenous molecules, and hence are liable to produce false negative or positive results. To address this issue, a fluorescence-SERS dual-signal nano-system for real-time imaging of intracellular TE was designed by functionalizing a bimetallic Au@Ag nanostructure with 4- p -mercaptobenzoic acid (internal standard SERS tag) and a DNA hybrid complex consisted of a telomerase primer strand and its partially complimentary strand modified with Rhodamine 6G. The bimetallic Au@Ag nanostructure serves as an excellent SERS-enhancing and fluorescence-quenching substrate. Intracellular TE will trigger the extension of the primer strand and cause the shedding of Rhodamine 6G-modified complimentary strand from the nano-system through intramolecular DNA strand displacement, resulting in the recovery of the fluorescence of Rhodamine 6G and decrease in its SERS signal. Both the fluorescence of R6G and the ratio between the SERS signals of 4- p -mercaptobenzoic acid and Rhodamine 6G can be used for in situ imaging of intracellular TE. Experimental results showed that the proposed nano-system was featured with low background, excellent cell internalization efficiency, good biocompatibility, high sensitivity, good selectivity, and robustness to false positive results. It can be used to distinguish cancer cells from normal ones, identify different types of cancer cells, as well as perform absolute quantification of intracellular TE, which endows it with great potential in clinical diagnosis, target therapy and prognosis of cancer patients. [Display omitted] • A dual-signal nanosensor was developed for imaging of telomerase in living cells. • Au@Ag nanoparticles served as fluorescence quenching and SERS enhancing substrate. • The results of the fluorescence and SERS channels can provide mutual confirmation. • The SERS channel of the nanosensor can help identify false positive results. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Visualization and manipulation of defined motoneurons have provided significant insights into how motor circuits are assembled in Drosophila. A conventional approach for molecular and cellular analyses of subsets of motoneurons involves the expression of a wide range of UAS transgenes using available GAL4 drivers (eg, eve promoter-fused GAL4). However, a more powerful toolkit could be one that enables a single-cell characterization of interactions between neurites from neurons of interest. Here we show the development of a UAS > LexA > QF expression system to generate randomly selected neurons expressing one of the 2 binary expression systems. As a demonstration, we apply it to visualize dendrite-dendrite interactions by genetically labeling eve + neurons with distinct fluorescent reporters. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Te can effectively modify MnS inclusion to improve the anisotropy and machinability of steel. To figure out the mechanism of high‐temperature evolution and formation of inclusions, a high‐temperature confocal laser scanning microscope is used to in situ observe the performance of inclusions. In the steel with 22 ppm Te, Te mainly dissolves in MnS; no MnTe is generated. During the heating process, MnS inclusion remains solid state and no obvious phase change can be observed. In comparison, MnS–MnTe binary inclusion in the steel with 680 ppm Te forms a liquid phase due to the eutectic melting. The further increase of temperature causes the serious evaporation of Te. Based on scanning electron microscopy and energy‐dispersive spectrometry analysis and in situ observation of inclusions at high temperature, the formation mechanism of inclusions during solidification is proposed. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Using mechanically activated Mg(OH) 2 /AlO(OH) powder, we obtained nearly fully dense MgAl 2 O 4 ceramics with small grains by combining reactive cold sintering and ultrafast high-temperature sintering (UHS). During reactive cold sintering, the intermediate products, γ -Al 2 O 3 and α -Al 2 O 3 , stemming from the dehydration of AlO(OH), reacted with MgO to form nanocrystalline bulk MgAl 2 O 4 with a relative density of up to ∼65%. After the subsequent UHS process (1930 °C for 60 s), the relative density of the samples reached 97%. The sintering efficiency and the final density of the samples were substantially higher than those of conventional sintering (1500 °C/6 h). This work provides a new technical route for the efficient fabrication of dense and fine-grained spinel ceramics. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Objective: This study aimed to evaluate ambispectively the effectiveness of a real‐time computer‐aided detection (CADe) system on the number of polyp (PPC) or adenoma per colonoscopy (APC), and polyp (PDR) or adenoma detection rate (ADR). Methods: Eight‐five videos marked using the CADe system, together with the unmarked videos, were reviewed by two senior endoscopists. Polyps detected in the marked and unmarked videos were recounted in parallel. Additionally, 128 consecutive patients were enrolled for a prospective evaluation using a standard colonoscopy or the CADe monitor alternately every 2 weeks. The PC, APC, PDR and ADR were compared between the two groups. Results: The total number of polyps reported in the unmarked and marked videos were 73 and 88, respectively (mean PPC 0.86 vs 1.04, P = 0.001). The proportion of polyps detected per colonoscopy increased by 20.5%. Of the 128 prospectively enrolled patients, 186 polyps were detected. The mean PPC was higher in the CADe colonoscopy than in the standard colonoscopy (1.66 vs 1.13, P = 0.039). The PDR using the CADe colonoscopy was significantly higher than that of the standard colonoscopy (78.1% vs 56.3%, P = 0.008). Conclusion: Real‐time CADe system significantly increases the PDR and PPC under the situation of a high rate of polyp detection. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Introduction and hypothesis: The objective of this study, a digital in vivo anatomical study based on patient-specific three-dimensional (3D) models reconstructed from computed tomography (CT) scans, was to clarify the anatomy of the presacral space and suggest a safe area for complication-free graft or mesh fixation. Methods: We retrospectively studied 182 CT angiography (CTA) datasets from Han Chinese women examined for gynecological diseases from January 2018–June 2020; we used Mimics 21.0 to create 176 3D models of the female presacral space. The distances of pelvic structures from the presacral vessels and ureters were standardized and measured in 3D mode. Results: The distances from the median sacral artery (MSA) to the bilateral great vessels and bilateral ureters at the sacral promontory (SP) level were similar to the respective distances from the midpoint of the SP (MSP) to those four structures (p > 0.05). At the level of the first transverse line, when the MSA was right of the midline, the MSA was 20.74 ± 3.86 mm from the medial edge of the left first anterior sacral foramen. When the MSA was left of the midline, its average distance from the medial edge of the right first anterior sacral foramen was 20.89 ± 4.92 mm. The SP was 9.71 ± 4.49 mm and 40.39 ± 6.74 mm, respectively, from the first and second sacral transverse veins along the midline. Conclusions: To preserve important vasculature, we recommend a 30 × 20-mm (L × W) avascular rectangular-shaped area, 10 mm below the SP and alongside the MSA, for safe graft or mesh attachment during sacrocolpopexy. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

• Our work demonstrates a stable system for the induction of in vitro flowering in P. auriculata. • We found that in vitro flowering in P. auriculata could be obtained by adjusting only light and temperature and it did not require hormone induction. • We found that in vitro flowering in P. auriculata also presented dimorphism, and the morphs could be quickly identified in the bottle. • Compared with flowers grown in the ground, in vitro flowering in P. auriculata also had unique ornamental value, which could be indoor furnishings. Plumbago auriculata Lam., a typical distylous plant, undergoes heteromorphic self-incompatibility (HetSI). The use of in vitro flowering allows the early identification of a plant's style morphology, and this process can be used to increase the efficiency of the breeding process and expedite research on the flowering mechanisms of P. auriculata. Here, we used seeds of P. auriculata as explants; obtained plantlets; and assessed the effects of temperature, thermoperiod, photoperiod, and light intensity on the in vitro flowering of the plants. The optimum temperature treatment was a diurnal alternation of 35 °C for 12 h and 25 °C for 12 h. Under these conditions, flower bud formation occurred within approximately 33 d, and the flowering percentage was as high as 91%. A photoperiod of 16 h and a light intensity of 200 µmol m−2 s−1 also promoted in vitro flowering. Under these conditions, flower buds formed within approximately 33 d, and the flowering percentage was approximately 90%. However, relatively long photoperiods and high light intensity suppressed flower bud development, reduced flowering, and shortened flower lifespan. The in vitro flowers had a lighter colour and smaller petals than did the in vivo flowers, although their floral structures (including their reproductive structures) were intact. This work demonstrates a stable system for the induction of in vitro flowering in P. auriculata and describes suitable temperature (35 °C/25 °C) and light (16 h photoperiod and 200 µmol m−2 s−1) conditions for rapid in vitro flowering. This system allows the efficient identification of long and short P. auriculata morphs and allows the formulation of a reasonable cultivation plan. The methods described here provide technical support for the development, utilization, and rapid propagation of excellent new P. auriculata varieties. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In article 2300187, Ping Shen, Jianxun Fu, and co‐workers show that by utilizing the automatic sulfide classification method, sulfides present in high‐sulfur steels can be automatically categorized into three types. Subsequently, distinct types of sulfides can be individually quantified and analyzed, providing a dependable approach for evaluating the improvement of size, morphology, distribution of inclusions through various sulfide control methods..By Ping Shen; Kang Xu; Xing Wu; Cheng Guo; Ruting Chi; Yuexing Han and Jianxun FuReported by Author; Author; Author; Author; Author; Author; Author [Extracted from the article]

[Display omitted] • ZRA utilized to tailor the structures of freeze-cast ceramic preforms and composites. • Relationship between microstructure and properties of the composites elucidated. • Honeycomb-tube composites achieved high strength and good toughness. • Multiple bio-inspired toughening mechanisms stimulated in composites. Achieving lightweight, robust, and resilient materials is a sought-after goal, yet concurrently achieving these attributes presents a substantial challenge. A biomimetic design approach opens doors to innovative possibilities in this domain. In this paper, we use the ice-shaping properties of zirconium acetate (ZRA) to obtain Al/Al 2 O 3 composites with tunable architectures through freeze casting and pressure infiltration. The concentration of ZRA in the initial slurry is critical in controlling the final structure of the composites. The composites' bending strength, compressive strength, and crack-initiation fracture toughness K Ic improve with increasing ZRA concentration in the initial slurry. Interestingly, the crack-extension fracture toughness K Jc demonstrates an initial decrease followed by subsequent improvement. In addition, the relationship between cracking mode and structural features in the composites is elucidated to explain the underlying strengthening and toughening mechanisms. This tunable and scale-able ice-templating and manufacturing approach opens new doors for developing high-performance metal-ceramic composites. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

[Display omitted] • Chlorite, epidote, and apatite in five stages show different geochemical features. • Magmatic hydrothermal fluids played a remarkably crucial role during the overprinting period. • The mechanism of copper precipitation is distinct in different stages. Porphyry copper deposits can be deformed by subsequent magmatic-tectonic-metamorphic evolution, resulting in the remobilization of pre-existing ores and the consequent overprinting mineralization. This process might potentially increase the ore grade and/or resource. We focus on the Duobaoshan porphyry Cu (Mo) deposit, two periods were identified in this study, i.e., porphyry period (including Stage 1: potassic alteration; 2: propylitic alteration, and 3: chlorite-sericite alteration and porphyry mineralization) and overprinting period (including Stage 4–1: ductile–brittle deformation; Stage 4–2 and Stage 4–3: overprinting mineralization). Metal sulfide veins occur along the schist in Stage 4–2 and Stage 4–3, features that differ from the typical porphyry mineralization of Stage 3 (veinlets, stockworks, and dissemination). Here, we present in situ Sr isotope data for apatite and compositions of chlorite, epidote, and apatite to reveal the source and nature of fluids and mechanism of precipitation during overprinting mineralization. The in situ 87Sr/86Sr ratios of apatite from Stages 3, which range from 0.7030 to 0.7046, are slightly higher than those observed in the Ordovician granodiorite. Meanwhile, the Sr isotope ratios for apatite from Stages 4–2 and 4–3 are 07033–0.7040 and 0.7013–0.7045 respectively. These ratios broadly consistent with those of the surrounding Ordovician granodiorite and basaltic andesite, suggesting that the ore-forming fluids for all these stages originated from magmatic sources. Chlorite in Stage 4–2 has a higher Mn, Co, Ni, Zn content compared to chlorite in Stage 3, 4–3, whereas epidote and apatite in Stage 4–2 have higher Ca, Sr, Pb content compared to those in Stage 3, 4–3, implying that the fluids in Stage 4–2 underwent strongly water–rock reactions and extracted metal elements from surrounding rocks. Copper was only detected in Stage 4–3 chlorite (15.13–500.20 ppm) and epidote (7.91–19.29 ppm), indicating a high concentration of copper in the fluid, and due to the pre-existing magnetite dissolution, chlorite, epidote, and apatite in Stage 4–3 exhibit high V and Fe relative to other stages. Fluid mixing likely occurred during Stage 3, leading to the precipitation of copper. Strong water-reaction in Stage 4–2 produce changes in fluid natures that facilitate sulfide deposition during this stage. While in Stage 4–3, copper precipitation is controlled by a combination of rising pH and changing sulfur content and valence. Our study highlights that in the Duobaoshan deposit, late magmatic-hydrothermal fluids remobilized pre-existing ore bodies, and the copper precipitation mechanisms differed during the main copper mineralization events. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

[Display omitted] • The elevated content of Ca and Mg in tourmaline implies that the pegmatite melt was contaminated by the host rock. • This work considers that the expulsion of fluxes in the pegmatite melt triggered the deposition of rare element minerals. • The δ 11B values of tourmaline in the comb-like structure of the No.3 pegmatite vary from –11.63 ‰ to –13.16 ‰, indicating that the tourmaline and associated pegmatite may derive from the melting of clastic sedimentary rock from the Habahe Group forming in Mid Ordovician to Early Devonian in the Chinese Altay orogenic belt. This study presents petrochemical and boron isotope compositions of tourmalines from the fertile (No. 3) and relatively barren (No. 1, 2b) pegmatite in the Koktokay pegmatitic rare-metal deposit, to better understand the influence of external contamination on pegmatite mineralization and the source of these pegmatites. There are four types of tourmalines that have been studied: (1) tourmaline in the tourmaline-mica nest of pegmatite No. 1 (Tur-N); (2) tourmalines in the comb-like structure of pegmatite No. 1 (Tur-C1), 2b (Tur-C2), and 3 (Tur-C3), respectively. Tur-N tourmaline is heterogeneous in backscattered electron (BSE) images, Tur-C1 and Tur-C2 appear to be homogenous crystals, while Tur-C3 exhibits to have a complicated zonal structure. These tourmalines are members of the alkali group tourmalines representing mostly dravite-schorl solid solutions. Tur-N contains the lowest Ca content. There is a general increase in the contents of Mg and Ca from Tur-C1 to Tur-C3, implying that the pegmatite melt was contaminated by the host rock (metagabbro) during the emplacement. The contamination's diffusive influx of Mg, Ca, and Fe components into the pegmatite melt impelled the crystallization of tourmaline during the emplacement, which subsequently triggered the deposition of rare element minerals. The external contamination implies that the closed system of melt is extremely favorable for the enrichment and mineralization of rare elements in the pegmatitic rare-metal deposit. The boron isotopes vary slightly among the four types of tourmalines. The B-isotope composition of Tur-C3 is the heaviest (–11.63 ± 0.05 ‰ to –13.16 ± 0.05 ‰), followed by Tur-C1 (–12.29 ± 0.06 ‰ to –12.93 ± 0.05 ‰) and Tur-C2 (–12.51 ± 0.05 ‰ to –13.21 ± 0.05 ‰), Tur-N contains the lowest δ 11B value (–13.20 ± 0.05 ‰ to –13.76 ± 0.05 ‰). Synthesized with the previous research results, we hold that the boron isotope of tourmaline (Tur-C3) in the comb-like structure of No. 3 pegmatite might represent the isotope composition of its initial magma, indicating that the tourmaline and associated pegmatite may derive from the melting of clastic sedimentary rock from the Habahe Group forming in Mid Ordovician to Early Devonian in the Chinese Altay orogenic belt. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

To develop good rate capability and good cycle stability electrode, hierarchical porous coral-like ZnO/ZnCo2O4/Co3O4 coating was fabricated on a novel 3D straight-through layered copper current collector with one-step solution combustion method and used as self-supporting anode for lithium-ion batteries (LIBs). The coral-like ZnO/ZnCo2O4/Co3O4 coating facilitated the full penetration of the electrolyte and increased the activation rate of the active material. Also, the novel 3D copper current collector has an increased surface area compared to a traditional foam metal, providing an optimal structure for balancing the volume-change tolerance and the energy density of the porous electrode. In addition, the highly oriented structure favors the effective transport of electrons and Li ions within the 3D electrode. As a consequence, high reversible capacity of 1428 mAh g−1 at a current density of 200 mA g−1 after 100 cycles and excellent rate capability of 682 mAh g−1 at 1000 mA g−1 were achieved. This study provides a facile and scalable path toward high-performance self-supporting electrodes for LIBs and demonstrates that the volume density of self-supporting electrodes can be enhanced by increasing surface area of the 3D structured current collector. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

One of the key factors determining the degree of erosion in the outlet parts of refractory interfaces is diffusion. By studying the representative diffusion behavior of lanthanum, cerium, and manganese in molten rare‐earth high‐carbon heavy rail steel using different refractory interfaces, the diffusion kinetics mechanism of each alloying element is illustrated. The results show that the concentration of diffused lanthanum, cerium, and manganese in rare‐earth high‐carbon heavy rail steel imparts minor changes on the two aluminum–magnesium refractories used in our experiments, whereas the other four refractories show unstable behavior. Furthermore, it is revealed that the smaller the porosity of a refractory material, the greater the decrease in the diffusion channel of each element in molten steel, which in turn increases the diffusion activation barrier and results in slower diffusion. Overall, the suitability degree of the refractory materials tested in experiments for processing molten rare‐earth high‐carbon heavy rail steel with regard to cost, adhesion strength, and erosion degree is as follows: Al2O3–MgO > Al2O3–MgO–SiO2 coating > Al2O3–SiO2–SiO2 coating > Al2O3–SiO2 > Al2O3 > ZrO2. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The effect of phlorotannin extracts (PTE) (from sporophyll of Undaria pinnatifida) added at different levels (0, 25, 125, 625 µmol/g protein) on the gel properties of mackerel (Scomberomorus niphonius) myofibrillar protein (MP) was studied with and without ultraviolet A (UVA) irradiation. The results showed that the gel strength and cooking yield increased in a PTE dose‐dependent manner, and at the level of 625 µmol/g protein PTE, the highest gel strength of 308.43 ± 8.12 (mN·cm) and cooking yield of 76.16 ± 1.40% were obtained in the samples treated with UVA irradiation. The same samples also showed increased carbonyl content, decreased total sulfhydryl, unwinding of α‐helix, and quenching of fluorescence intensity of endogenous tryptophan, all of which indicated that elevated protein oxidation in these samples led to enhanced protein cross‐linking. Results of sodium dodecyl sulfate‐polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis (SDS‐PAGE) indicated aggregation of myosin heavy chains (MHCs) in the UVA‐treated gels with PTE, also evidenced by the dense three‐dimensional network structure in these samples visualized by scanning electron microscopy (SEM). Electron spin resonance (ESR) and spin trapping results indicated that free radicals were produced during the gelation process, possibly originated from UVA‐treated PTE, which played a critical role of oxidizing fish MPs, and eventually led to the improvement of the textural properties of the mackerel MP gel. Practical Application: Brown algae are a family of high‐yield marine algae. Phlorotannin extracts are highly active natural substances extracted from brown algae that can have many applications. Ultraviolet A (UVA) as a green and environmentally friendly physical processing method has been widely used in food processing in recent years. The method proposed in this study could be utilized to improve properties of fish protein gel made from poorly performing low‐priced fishes, and provide workable guidance for industry to expand the application of brown algae in food processing to better meet consumer's demand for high‐quality marine foods. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Acquired aplastic anemia (AA) is a rare hematological disease characterized by bone marrow hypocellularity and varying degrees of pancytopenia. Immunosuppressive therapy (IST) is currently one of the first-line treatments for AA; however, unresponsiveness remains a major concern. Although previous studies have suggested several common risk factors for unresponsiveness, there are currently no widely accepted predictors. Therefore, a meta-analysis of clinical trials including information on factors associated with unresponsiveness of AA to IST was performed in the present study. The PubMed, Embase and Cochrane Library databases were searched for clinical studies on AA evaluating the association between risk factors and unresponsiveness to IST. After the factors were defined from the selected studies, the association between these factors and unresponsiveness to IST was analyzed using Review Manager software. A total of 10 studies comprising 1,820 cases were included in the present meta-analysis. The following factors were identified as predictors of unresponsiveness: Age (≥60 years), sex, absolute neutrophil count, severity of the disease, paroxysmal nocturnal hemoglobinuria clone, human leukocyte antigen (HLA)-DR2 and cytogenetic abnormalities (CAs). Among these factors, only age (≥60 years) [odds ratio (OR)=1.65], HLA-DR2 negativity (OR=2.72) and CAs (OR=1.93) exhibited a statistically significant association with unresponsiveness to IST (P=0.006, P=0.04 and P=0.01, respectively). In conclusion, the present meta-analysis revealed that age ≥60 years, HLA-DR2 negativity and CAs are risk factors for unresponsiveness to IST. This result may enable clinicians to select an effective therapeutic scheme for patients with AA and even provide novel clues to the pathogenesis of AA. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: An antimicrobial stewardship campaign was launched in 2011 by the Ministry of Health. This study aimed to assess the achievements and trends in the clinical use of antibiotics in secondary and tertiary hospitals following this campaign in China.Methods: This observational study analyzed nationwide hospital antibiotic procurement and consumption data and antibiotic-resistance surveillance data based on claims filed in 2010-2016.Results: After a 6-year national campaign, the proportion of outpatients and surgical patients who received antibiotic treatment decreased from 19.5% to 8.5% and from 97.9% to 38.3%, respectively. The intensity of antibiotic use among inpatients decreased from 85.3±29.8 defined daily dosage (DDD) per 100 patient days to 48.5±8.0 DDD per 100 patient days. Moreover, the antibiotic procurement expenditure among hospitals declined from 22.3% of total drug procurement costs in 2010 to 12.1% in 2016, although total drug procurement costs doubled during that time. The incidence of methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus isolates also dropped (from 54.4% in 2010 to 34.4% in 2016), as did the proportion of carbapenem-resistant Pseudomonas aeruginosa isolates (from 30.8% to 22.3%).Conclusions: The 6-year campaign successfully reduced antibiotic consumption and irrational drug use in Chinese hospitals which was associated with declines in the prevalence of common antibiotic-resistant bacteria. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The Tuwu deposit is one of the largest porphyry copper deposits in the Eastern Tianshan, Northwest China. Ore bodies of the deposit are associated with the tonalite porphyry, which intruded the Early Carboniferous Qi´eshan Group. The hydrothermal ore‐forming processes include the porphyry mineralization episode with potassic, chlorite‐sericite/albite, phyllic, and propylitic alteration and the overprinting mineralization episode. These hydrothermal alteration episodes were studied on the basis of mass transfer and element mobility. The mass balance data and isocon diagrams reveal that Cu is highly associated with the chlorite‐sericite (albite) stage and followed by phyllic and potassic stages. On the basis of electron probe analysis, the SO3 contents of the igneous apatite from the tonalite porphyries range from 0.016 to 0.288 wt.%, which are higher than those from the diorite porphyries (SO3 = 0.088–0.179 wt.%). Similarly, the apatite saturation temperature (861–926°C) and magmatic S content (mean = 52.16 ppm) from the tonalite porphyries are also higher that from the diorite porphyries (T = 813–877°C; S = 28.25 ppm). These results suggest that the S content of the apatite is related to the temperature and S content of the melt. In the hydrothermal alteration zones, the F favours partitioning into apatite under lower temperature, the F contents of hydrothermal apatite increase from the potassic zones to the propylitic zones accompanying with the decrease of temperature. Cl element is much more sensitive to the pH, pressure, and fluid composition than F element. The Cl contents of the apatite increase from the potassic zones (0.18–0.46 wt.%) to the chorite‐sericite (albite) zones (0.28–0.58 wt.%), resulting from the decrease of fluid pH and pressure. The lower Cl contents of apatite (0.07–0.48 wt.%) in the phyllic zones were due to the lower Cl content of hydrothermal fluids. The highest Cl contents (0.09–0.69 wt.%) of apatite in the propylitic zones were caused by the decrease of pressure. The δ18Owater values of quartz in chlorite‐sericite (albite) zones and phyllic zones range from −0.8‰ to −0.4‰ and from −5.3‰ to 4.8‰, and the δD values vary from −57‰ to −47‰ and from −52‰ to −44‰, respectively. Gaseous compositions of the fluid inclusions in quartz are dominated by H2O with minor CO2, and the liquid compositions mainly consist of Na+ and Cl−. These data imply that the ore‐forming fluids belong to the H2O‐NaCl system and evolved from magmatic water to meteoric water in origin. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The wetting of (100), (110) and (111) MgAl 2 O 4 single crystals by molten Al at 1073–1273 K in vacuum was investigated using a dispensed sessile drop method to determine the effect of the substrate orientation on the wettability and reaction in this system. This system is non-wetting in nature. The initial contact angles are generally in the range of 96–106°, slightly decreasing with increasing temperature but without significant dependence on the MgAl 2 O 4 surface orientation. However, the interfacial reaction is sensitive to the MgAl 2 O 4 surface orientation and temperature. No reaction product was observed at 1073 K while the thickness of the Al 2 O 3 product layer was in the order of (100) > (110) > (111) at 1173 K and 1273 K. During the reactive wetting process, significant reconstruction and "whisker growth" occurred at the periphery of the triple line due to the stress created at the substrate surface as a result of volume change between the reactant and product, and the morphology of the "whiskers" was closely related to the MgAl 2 O 4 crystal orientation. The formation of these "whiskers" not only affected the wetting behavior but also weakened the dependence of the wettability on the MgAl 2 O 4 surface orientation. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: The endoscopic modified Lothrop procedure (EMLP) is used to manage ongoing refractory frontal sinusitis after failed previous endoscopic sinus surgery (ESS), but this approach has a significant restenosis rate. We evaluated the potential benefits of mucosal grafts and pedicled flaps on the opening of the newly formed frontal ostium. Methods: Fifty patients with refractory frontal sinusitis or mucoceles after ESS were randomized to undergo EMLP, either with (n = 27) or without (n = 23) mucosal grafts and pedicled flap reconstruction of the neo‐ostium. The frontal neo‐ostium was measured with Lindholm distending forceps, and anteroposterior (A‐P) and lateral dimensions were measured intraoperatively, and then again at 6 weeks, 6 months, and 12 months postoperatively. Olfaction outcomes were assessed using the Taiwan Smell Identification Test (TWSIT) and a smell visual analog scale (VAS) score preoperatively and at 6 months postsurgery. Results: The initial intraoperative mean lateral and A‐P dimensions were 23.2 ± 2.7 mm and 14.8 ± 2.3 mm and were significantly decreased at all time‐points postoperatively. The mucosal grafts and pedicled flaps had greater lateral and A‐P dimensions, and a greater percentage of intraoperative frontal neo‐ostium area at all time‐points postoperatively (all p < 0.05). At 6 months postoperatively, TWSIT (p = 0.027), but not the smell VAS score (p = 0.063), was significantly improved compared with baseline. TWSIT and smell VAS score changes did not differ between groups (p = 0.92 and p = 0.85, respectively). Conclusion: The use of mucosal grafts and pedicled flaps reduces stenosis of the frontal neo‐ostium postsurgery and should be considered after EMLP. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Electrically actuated movement of liquid metals is quite promising in mechanical engineering and applied physics. However, little work has so far been performed on the effect of current polarity on the actuation of the eutectic gallium–indium (EGaIn) alloy moving on metal substrates. In this work, the spreading of EGaIn on copper (Cu) substrate under different direct-current (DC) polarities in the 0.5 mol/L NaOH solution was investigated, and the underlying mechanisms were addressed. When the Cu substrate was connected to cathode, the wetting was essentially attributed to the reduction in the oxidized surface of the Cu substrate; whereas, under the opposite polarity, the spreading was related to the tension gradient along the EGaIn–solution interface, which induced Marangoni flow, despite the fact that the EGaIn–Cu system was non-wetting in this case. Unlabelled Image • Application of DC drives the spreading of EGaIn on Cu substrate. • The spreading behavior varies greatly with DC polarity. • Spreading under wetting condition is primarily attributed to deoxidation of Cu surface. • Spreading under non-wetting condition is mainly due to Marangoni flow. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In this paper, a reconstruction approach for simulating the output performance of a satellite's solar array (SA) is proposed. This approach introduces an Earth-reflected irradiance and a degradation model that affect the performance in-orbit to reconstruct a typical single diode model. The main feature of this reconstruction is that the computational procedure is convenient and can be programmed to the microcomputer system for real-time performance monitoring. Based on limited information from the manufacturer's datasheet, the single diode model is parameterized. In addition, an effective method of determining initial values is presented to avoid nonconvergence in the parameterization. Moreover, Earth-reflected irradiance on a body-mounted SA is simulated analytically with the parallel and perpendicular view factors. The degradation of the SA performance is modeled by a nonlinear regression method. Finally, the reconstructed model is applied to simulate the SA performance of microsatellite Tianxun-1 (TX-1) developed by Nanjing University of Aeronautics and Astronautics. The measured results over four years in space verify the validity of the proposed reconstruction approach. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Objectives: Most vancomycin-intermediate Staphylococcus aureus (VISA) and heterogeneous VISA (hVISA) are derived from hospital-associated MRSA due to treatment failure; however, the prevalence of hVISA/VISA in community settings remains unclear.Methods: Four hundred and seventy-six community-associated isolates were collected between 2010 and 2011 during national surveillance for antimicrobial resistance in 31 county hospitals across China. Drug susceptibility evaluation and mecA detection were performed by using broth microdilution and PCR analysis, respectively. hVISA/VISA were identified by using macro-Etest and a modified population analysis profile (PAP)-AUC method. The genetic features of all hVISA/VISA isolates were genotyped.Results: Among 476 isolates, MRSA and MSSA accounted for 19.7% (n = 94) and 80.3% (n = 382), respectively. Two VISA and 36 hVISA isolates were identified by PAP-AUC testing. The VISA isolates and 29 of the hVISA isolates were MRSA. The proportion of hVISA/VISA was significantly higher in MRSA (30.9%) than in MSSA (1.8%). The hVISA/VISA isolates were assigned to 18 STs classified into seven clonal complexes (CCs). CC121 (n = 12) followed by ST239 (n = 11) was the most prevalent hVISA/VISA clone. All ST239-hVISA/VISA were MRSA, while 12 CC121-hVISA isolates included 6 MSSA and 6 MRSA isolates. SCCmec III was predominant among MRSA-hVISA/VISA isolates. agr I and agr IV were detected in ST239 and CC121, respectively. All except two strains were positive for Panton-Valentine leucocidin genes.Conclusions: To the best of our knowledge, this is the first report of CC121 as a prevalent hVISA clone in community settings, highlighting the necessity of surveillance and stricter infection control measures for this globally disseminated lineage. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This study highlights a green approach for the reduction of graphene oxide (GO) using the ultraviolet/sulfite advanced reduction process (UV/sulfite process). X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS) provided a strong evidence on the efficient reduction of GO by increasing the C/O ratio from 2.0 to 4.8, and the successful reduction was also characterized by UV–Vis, XRD and Raman spectrometry. The reduction of GO was attributed to the hydrated electrons generated from both sulfite photolysis (major, contributed by 71.4%) and GO photolysis (minor, contributed by 21.6%) under UV irradiation. The dissolved oxygen in water exhibited inhibitory effect on GO reduction through scavenging of the hydrated electrons. Moreover, the reduction efficiency of GO decreased with the increasing UV wavelength from 254 nm to 365 nm, because of the reduced molar absorptivity of sulfite at higher UV wavelength. By using this green photo-reduction method, high-purity of reduced graphene oxide can be easily obtained by water-rinse, since soluble sulfite are the only by-products. In conclusion, the research outcomes provide mechanistic insights on the GO reduction by the hydrated electron-based advanced reduction processes, which has great potential for the environmental-friendly and cost-effective reduction of GO. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Sustainable development goals for site-specific and customized design have brought needs to assess and quantify the stratigraphic uncertainty in three-dimensional (3D) modelling. The interpretation of uncertainty distribution with limited boreholes has always been challenging in 3D space, which is curial in engineering applications such as borehole sampling. In this study, we propose a rigorous random field-based framework to model the 3D stratigraphic uncertainty distribution with improved physical interpretation. Rather than offering constants or physically ambiguous models for Scales of Fluctuation (SoFs) as previous research, the framework adopts a series of SoFs calibrated by fitting stratum characteristics, to cope with local site-specificity in large geological sites. To evaluate the performance of the proposed framework, hypothetical cases are firstly used to demonstrate its applications in both 2D and 3D scenarios. The effectiveness of the proposed model is verified by borehole layout scheme optimization. Then, the proposed framework is applied to the 4 km-long geological site of the immersed tunnel of Hong Kong-Zhuhai-Macao Bridge using 246 boreholes, which is to date the first study on large 3D stratigraphic uncertainty modelling. Finally, a comprehensive discussion is presented for correct physical interpretation of SoFs, comparative studies and determination of important parameters, aiming at evaluating the compatibility in all scenarios. The novel method is proved to be effective in 3D uncertainty modelling for geological stratigraphy with improved physical interpretability, which provides guidelines for underground design. • 3D stratigraphic uncertainty is characterized by novel random field-based framework with improved physical interpretation. • Scales of Fluctuation are calibrated by stratum thickness to cope with local site-specificity within a geological site. • The framework is validated by the optimization of 3D borehole layout scheme. • The framework is applied to the large-scale 3D geological site of immersed tunnel of Hong Kong-Zhuhai-Macau Bridge. • Compatibility of the framework in modelling complex 3D geological site is presented. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The digestive behavior of fat globules is influenced by the structural differences in lipid between breast milk (BM) and infant formula (IF), however, it is still unclear how the size and surface structure of fat globules regulate the lipid adsorption and transport. Four emulsions stabilized by caseinate (CA) or milk fat globule membrane (MFGM) with large (3–5 μm, L) and small (0.3–0.5 μm, S) droplets size, named CA-L, CA-S, MFGM-L and MFGM-S, were fabricated to simulate the fat globules in BM and IF. Compared to CA-stabilized emulsions, MFGM-stabilized emulsions showed quicker fat digestion and faster absorption in vitro and in vivo. Moreover, MFGM-L displayed lower digestibility and higher absorptivity than those of MFGM-S. Cell transport study further confirmed MFGM-L could promote more chylomicrons secretion and better up-regulate gene expression associated with fat absorption and transport to enhance the cellular uptake of lipids. The digestion behavior and absorption of fat globules could be altered by their interfacial composition and particle size, and MFGM-L, which possessed a similar structure of fat globules in BM, was able to promote cellular uptake of lipid digesta. [Display omitted] • Emulsions were prepared to simulate fat globules in breast milk and infant formula. • MFGM-stabilized emulsion was quicker digested and absorbed than CA-stabilized one. • Large-sized MFGM-stabilized emulsion was slower digested and faster absorbed. • Larger MFGM-stabilized emulsion promoted more CMs secretion and lipid uptake. • Surface composition and size of fat globules alter lipid digestion and absorption. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

[Display omitted] • The Shangkelan alkali-feldspar granite and granitic pegmatite constitute a continuous differentiation granite–pegmatite system. • The alkali-metal elemental variations are mainly controlled by Rayleigh crystal-melt fractional crystallization. • The F- and W-rich fluid exsolution and subsequent greisenization played an important role in the wolframite mineralization. The Shangkelan granite–pegmatite is known for its internal zonation and tungsten mineralization in the Chinese Altai. However, the genetic relationship between the granite and pegmatite and the W mineralization mechanism in Shangkelan remains unclear. Here we present monazite U–Pb ages and Nd isotopic composition, and whole-rock and muscovite chemical compositions of each zone of the stock, to address these issues. From bottom to top, the stock mainly consists of alkali-feldspar granite (AFG) and granitic pegmatite (GP). Monazite LA-ICP-MS U–Pb dating and Nd isotopic analyses reveal that the AFG and GP have identical ages and similar εNd(t) values, 189 ± 2 Ma and −0.79–+0.38 and 190 ± 1 Ma and −0.70–+0.01, respectively. Whole-rock geochemical results show that the stock is highly fractionated and has a differential trend characterized by increasing Rb, Cs, and Tl contents, decreasing W, Ba, and Sr contents, and Zr/Hf ratios from the AFG to GP. Both primary (magmatic) and secondary (hydrothermal) muscovites have been recognized in Shangkelan. From the AFG to GP, element concentrations and ratios of primary muscovite form well-defined differentiation trends marked by gradual increases in Rb, Cs, and Nb, and decreases in W, K/Rb, and Nb/Ta. Based on the gradational contacts in field, identical monazite ages, and similar Nd isotopic compositions, together with the differentiation trends of incompatible elements (such as Rb and Cs) in bulk-rock and primary muscovite and alkali metal Rayleigh fractionation modeling results, we consider that the AFG is parental to GP and they were produced by continuous fractional crystallization of a common magma source. Additionally, for the monazites Nd isotopes, their two-stage Nd model ages of 1034–939 Ma and slightly negative to positive εNd(t) values (−0.79–+0.38) indicate that the magma sources were mainly derived from the reworking of the Stenian–Tonian basement. Secondary muscovite precipitated from the fluids that exsolved from the parental AFG melt has high contents of F and W. Tungsten may be dissolved as H 3 WO 4 F2− in the fluids. The greisenization caused the destabilization of H 3 WO 4 F2− and eventually led to the precipitation of wolframite in Shangkelan. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

For the first time, the wettability of fluorite-type high-entropy (Zr 1/3 Hf 1/3 Ce 1/3) 1- x (Y 1/2 Gd 1/2) x O 2-δ (δ = 0.05‒0.3) ceramics by molten Cu under a direct current (DC) was investigated. The wetting behavior depended noticeably on the stoichiometry (x = 0.1‒0.6) of the metal components in (Zr 1/3 Hf 1/3 Ce 1/3) 1- x (Y 1/2 Gd 1/2) x O 2-δ. The initial contact angle increased with x. For x ≥ 0.4, DC application improved the wettability, and the final contact angle decreased with increasing x. The wettability improvement was mainly attributed to the diffusion of high-entropy metal components into the Cu melt and the formation of an interfacial product. The relatively weak Ce‒O and Gd‒O bonds were dissociated more easily, and Ce and Gd diffused more rapidly than Zr, Hf and Y and thereby influenced the wettability more prominently. This work is expected to advance the understanding of interfacial physicochemical interactions between metal melts and high-entropy oxides and provide a reference for joining high-entropy oxides with metals under an electric field. [Display omitted] [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The strong covalent bonds and low self-diffusion coefficients of high-entropy diboride (HEBs) and diboride-carbide (HEB-HEC) ceramics render their densification difficult, which limits their applications. Here, we used an ultra-fast high-temperature sintering technique to synthesize and densify several HEBs and HEB-HEC (containing 5–8 cations) ceramics within an isothermal duration of 1 min and a total sintering period of 6 min. All ceramics formed a single-phase or dual-phase high-entropy solid solution, and showed high density, high hardness and good fracture toughness. The rapid densification mechanisms were determined, and the preferential occupancy of metal cations in HEB and HEC phases was explained using a simplified ideal solution model. A good fracture toughness in the range of 3.6–5.4 MPa·m1/2 resulted from crack deflection or blunting and bridging of the rod-like diboride or boron-rich phase. This paper presents a simple, economical, and efficient method for the synthesis and densification of high-entropy ceramics and other advanced materials. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The present study investigated the role of the c-Jun N-terminal kinase (JNK)/transforming growth factor-β (TGF-β)/Smad3 pathway in endoplasmic reticulum stress (ERS)-mediated renal interstitial fibrosis, which would be beneficial for chronic kidney disease (CKD) therapy. In human renal biopsy tissue, the expression levels of glucose-regulated protein 78 (GRP78) and phosphorylated (p)-JNK were examined by immunohistochemical analysis. In renal tubular HK-2 cells, tunicamycin (TM) was used to induce ERS, and the cells were then treated with the chemical ERS inhibitor 4-phenylbutyrate (4-PBA) or the chemical JNK pathway inhibitor SP600125, respectively. Western blotting was then performed in the cells to determine the expression levels of GRP78 and p-JNK proteins, as well as TGF-β/Smad3 pathway-associated proteins, including TGF-β1, p-Smad3, connective tissue growth factor and α-smooth muscle actin. The results revealed that GRP78 and p-JNK were evidently expressed in the renal tissues of patients with CKD, and these expression levels were significantly higher in renal tissues with severe interstitial fibrosis compared with glomerular minor lesion tissues (P<0.01 and P<0.05, respectively). Furthermore, ERS and JNK pathway inhibition decreased the expression levels of TGF-β/Smad3 pathway signals in cells incubated with TM. ERS pathway inhibition also attenuated the expression levels of p-JNK in HK-2 cells. In conclusion, ERS was observed to serve an important role in the pathogenesis of CKD and may induce renal interstitial fibrosis via the JNK/TGF-β/Smad3 pathway. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

We proposed a new strategy of combining dynamic freeze casting with pressure infiltration and successfully prepared an antler-bone-inspired gradient metal-ceramic composite. As exemplified by Al-7Si-5Cu/Al 2 O 3 , the resultant composite exhibits the unique mechanical properties of being externally hard, strong, and wear-resistant but internally soft and tough owing to its compositional and structural gradients and delicate lamellar microstructures. This study offers a feasible, flexible, and scalable approach to designing and preparing functionally gradient materials with biomimetic structural features and exceptional properties. Unlabelled Image [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The problem of local synchronization control for chaotic neural networks with sampled-data and saturating actuators is investigated in this paper. The intervals from the sampling instant t k to its next instant t k + 1 are assumed to be within a sampling interval. By taking advantage of characteristic information on the whole sampling interval, a new two-sided sampling-interval-dependent discontinuous Lyapunov functional is first constructed, which depends on the available information of both the intervals from t k to t and from t to t k + 1. Then, by utilizing the Lyapunov functional, a novel sampling-interval-dependent stability condition is derived, rendering the synchronization error systems stable. Moreover, an optimization approach is provided to design desired sampled-data controllers such that the set of admissible initial conditions can be maximized. Finally, the effectiveness and benefits of the presented method is verified by numerical simulation. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]