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Background: The purpose of this study is to examine the development of healthcare services efficiency in China since the reform of the healthcare system. By examining the development environment of healthcare services in China and examining the driving factors affecting the efficiency of healthcare services, we provide a reference for the future high-quality development of healthcare services in China. Methods: A three-stage super-efficient slack-based measure (SBM) model with undesirable outputs was used to measure the efficiency of healthcae services in 31 Chinese provinces from 2009 to 2021, and a global Malmquist-Luenberger (GML) index was used to assess their spatiotemporal evolution characteristics and internal influencing mechanisms of healthcare services efficiency. Results: The empirical results showed that the efficiency of China's healthcare services changed significantly from 2009–2014 and then remained stable. During the study period, the efficiency of healthcare services in the eastern region was higher than the national level, while it was lower in the western region. The results of the analysis of environmental factors indicated that an increase in population density reduced the redundancy of healthcare input resources and that economic development as well as an increase in government subsidies, contributed to an increase in the redundancy of healthcare input resources. The main contribution to the growth of healthcare sercices efficiency in China came from the technological innovation effect, and the growth was most significant in the western region. Conclusion: From 2009 to 2021, the efficiency of national healthcare services generally showed a slow upward trend, and the efficiency of healthcare services varied widely among regions. Under the existing environmental constraints, relevant departments in each region should strengthen technological innovation in healthcare services, completely focus on the regional catch-up effect, and promote the balanced development of regional health. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Lignin, which is rich in phenolic hydroxyl/methoxy groups as redox active groups, is a potential electrolyte material for aqueous redox flow batteries (ARFBs). This work demonstrated to the synthesis of lignin-derived electrolytes via cyclization with 1,4-dihydroxyanthraquinone (1,4-DHAQ), in the absence of hazardous or noble metal catalysts in mild conditions (0 °C, 1 atm). The structure of lignin anthraquinone derivatives (LAQDs) cyclized in basis alkaline solution was experimentally determined. An exhaustive comparative study was conducted with respect to the electrochemical properties, charging-discharging tests and cycling performances. The initially volumetric capacitance, the capacity retention rate and coulombic efficiency of two LAQDs were determined to be 148.0 mAh.L−1, 89.3 % and 99.0 % for coniferaldehyde-anthraquinone derivative [LAQD(G)], and 132.1 mAh.L−1, 81.2 % and 99.0 % for sinusaldehyde-anthraquinone derivative [LAQD(S)], respectively. The theoretical value calculated by DFT is consistent with the actual value. Such LAQDs can be used as organic electrolyte materials, which can overcome poor chemical stability of anthraquinone, while improving the electrochemical activity of lignin-based electrolyte materials. This technology provides a pathway to prepare organic electrolyte for the development of environment friendly and better energy storage performance electrolytes for ARFBs. • Having better chemical stability of lignin anthraquinone derivatives than anthraquinone for the active materials of ARFBs. • Enhancing the electrochemical activity of lignin by cyclization with 1,4-DHAQ. • Having excellent electrochemical properties of two kind of LAQDs, especially the lignin rich in G-unit groups from the softwood. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Pt–WO3−x catalysts showed very high catalytic activity in complete hydrodeoxygenation (HDO) of vanillin, a typical model compound of lignin, affording methylcyclohexane (MCH) in 92.5% yield at 220 °C, under 4.0 MPa H2 and in 2 h in n-hexane as the solvent. By tuning the reduction time and pre-treatment of the WO3 support, the influence of Pt species and oxygen vacancy sites of Pt–WO3−x on vanillin HDO performance was analyzed. The reaction pathway of vanillin HDO over Pt–WO3−x was proposed. Moreover, Pt–WO3−x showed wide applicability to the HDO of other phenols and high catalytic stability. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

We present the first case of a right ectopic ureter ending in epididymis combined with an ipsilateral complete duplex kidney, presenting with painless right scrotal mass and demonstrated by magnetic resonance imaging (MRI). The boy was initially diagnosed as right testicular teratoma by ultrasound, and then underwent surgical treatment. Because of recurrence of right scrotal swelling 1 year later, MR scan was performed. MR images with body coil displayed the entire ectopic ureter, and MR images with small surface coil clearly showed anatomic details of right ureteral ectopia into epididymis. Delayed-enhanced MRI showed contrast agent in the right dilated epididymis. The boy finally received the curative right upper pole nephronureterectomy. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Whey protein isolate (WPI) and chitosan were used to fabricate WPI/chitosan composite particles at temperatures of 75 °C (WPI/chitosan-75) and 95 °C (WPI/chitosan-95). The morphologic structure, surface properties, and the resulting tribological characteristics of the particles were investigated. The composite particles showed larger particle size than pure WPI particles (WPI-75) (~ 509 nm), with WPI/chitosan-95 the largest (932 nm). WPI/chitosan-75 showed complete core-shell structure from microstructure results. The dispersion of WPI/chitosan-75 exhibited higher surface hydrophobicity but lower viscosity compared to WPI/chitosan-95. Tribological analysis revealed that WPI/chitosan composite particles showed dramatically lower friction coefficient (μ) than pure WPI particles at sliding speed <10 mm/s and WPI/chitosan-75 demonstrated superior lubrication effects. With the presence of artificial saliva, the μ of WPI-75 was greatly lowered at sliding speed <16 mm/s, while the values of WPI/chitosan-75 only showed a slight decrease at sliding speed <1 mm/s. Chitosan might have played the similar role as artificial saliva in lubricating on the hydrophobic surface. Moreover, the incorporation of 0.5 % WPI/chitosan-75 in the low-fat (5 %) oil-in-water emulsion led to even lower μ than full-fat (20 %) emulsion at sliding speed <10 mm/s. Hence, WPI/chitosan-75 exhibited promising potential as a fat replacement and biolubricant. • Complete core-shell structured particles were formed at 75°C. • Larger particle with less intact shell structure were formed at 95°C • The composite particles showed much higher lubricity than pure protein particles • WPI/chitosan-75 showed excellent fat replacing effect in O/W emulsions [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Summary: The water distribution systems in utility tunnel are considered as the lifeline projects. The leakage monitoring of water supply and drainage pipelines is closely related to the overall operation and safety of the utility tunnel. However, conventional pipeline leakage monitoring methods are difficult to realize the monitoring of ordinary temperature liquid and small leakage. Moreover, they also have problems with noise interference, high false alarm rate, and high cost. In order to overcome the shortcomings of the conventional methods, the evaporation‐enhanced Fiber Bragg Grating (FBG) temperature sensing (EETS‐FBG) method was proposed as a new type of leakage monitoring solution according to the principle of the psychrometer. This method utilizes the evaporative cooling characteristics of water‐absorbing porous materials and the FBG temperature sensors to realize leakage monitoring. On the basis of experiments, the feasibility of this method is explored, and the effects of wind speed, liquid temperature, and leakage volume on monitoring results are analyzed. The experimental results show that the EETS‐FBG method can monitor the temperature difference of 0.97–8.55°C in the humidity of 51.0–90.8%RH, and the measured values are in good agreement with the theoretical values, which shows that the method has good feasibility. In addition, the measured temperature difference increases with the ambient wind speed, while the leakage volume and water temperature have no obvious effect on the temperature difference, which shows that the method has good reliability and universal applicability. This method has outstanding advantages for normal temperature liquid and small leakage monitoring and is worthy of application and promotion. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

To investigate the influence of particle characteristics on their lubricating capacity, microparticles of controlled size (~300, ~700, and ~1900 nm) were prepared from whey proteins using two different approaches: reducing the pH and increasing the calcium ion concentration. The physiochemical, morphological, and tribological properties of the two types of particles were determined. Both treatments pronouncedly decreased the absolute value of zeta-potential and surface hydrophobicity of whey proteins, with calcium ions showing a more severe effect on zeta-potential. The viscosity of the particle suspensions increased with particle size, and ion-induced samples showed higher viscosity than acid-induced ones. Morphology investigation revealed that particle aggregation and irregularity increased with particle size increase. Distinct lubricating behaviors were observed for the two particle types within different size ranges. Viscosity played a more important role in lubrication when the particle size was small, while particle characteristics became more dominant for large particles. [Display omitted] • Size-tuned whey protein particles were prepared by controlling pH or ion strength. • Ion treatment induced higher viscosity of particle dispersions than acid. • Viscosity may dominate the lubricity when particle size was small. • Lubricity of large particles was highly affected by their characteristics. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

As a kind of polyphenol substance, lignin is considered to have good biological activity and certain antibacterial properties. However, it is difficult to be applied because of its uneven molecular weight and difficulty in separation. In this study, by way of fractionation and antisolvent, we obtained lignin fractions with different molecular weight. Moreover, we increased the content of active functional groups and regulated microstructure of lignin, thereby increased lignin's antibacterial property. The classification of chemical components and the control of particle morphology also provided convenience for the exploration of lignin's antibacterial mechanism. The results showed that acetone with high hydrogen bonding ability could collect lignin with different molecular weights and increase the content of phenolic hydroxyl groups, up to 31.2 %. By adjusting the ratio of water/solvent (v /v) and stirring rate during the process of antisolvent, lignin nanoparticles (sphere 40–300 nm) with regular shape and uniform size can be obtained. Through observing the distribution of lignin nanoparticles in vivo and in vitro after co-incubation for different time, it could be found that lignin nanoparticles firstly damage structural integrity of bacterial cells externally, and then are swallowed into cells to affect their protein synthesis, which constitutes a dynamic antibacterial process. [Display omitted] • The controllable adjustment of microstructure of lignin nanoparticles • Antimicrobial activity of lignin varies with molecular weight and group content. • The multiple antibacterial mechanisms of lignin nanoparticles • Destroying the structural integrity of bacterial cells from the outside • Affecting protein synthesis after entering the bacterial cells [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Objective: To assess the feasibility of spectral CT–derived extracellular volume (ECV) for differentiating aldosterone-producing nodules (APN) from nonfunctioning adrenal nodules (NFN). Methods: Sixty-nine patients with biochemically and histologically confirmed unilateral APN (34) and NFN (35) as well as 23 patients with bilateral APN (19) and NFN (27) confirmed biochemically and by adrenal vein sampling (AVS) were enrolled in this retrospective study from October 2020 to April 2022. All patients underwent contrast-enhanced spectral CT of the adrenal glands with a 10-min delayed phase. The haematocrit level was measured within 2 days of CT. An iodine density map was derived from the delayed CT. The ECV fractions of the APN and NFN were calculated and compared in the test cohort of 69 patients with unilateral adrenal nodules. The optimal cut-off value was determined to evaluate the diagnostic efficacy of the ECV fraction for differentiating APN from NFN in the validation cohort of 23 patients with bilateral adrenal nodules. Results: The ECV fractions of the APN (11.17 ± 4.57%) were significantly lower (p < 0.001) than that of the NFN (24.79 ± 6.01%) in the test cohort. At cut-off ECV value of 17.16%, the optimal area under the receiver operating characteristic curve was 0.974 (95% confidence interval: 0.942–1) with 91.4% sensitivity, 93.9% specificity, and 92.8% accuracy in the test cohort and 89.5% sensitivity, 96.3% specificity, and 93.5% accuracy in the validation cohort for differentiating APN from NFN. Conclusion: The spectral CT–derived ECV fraction can differentiate APN from NFN with high diagnostic performance. Clinical relevance statement: Spectral CT–derived extracellular volume fraction could accurately differentiate between adrenal aldosterone-producing nodules and nonfunctioning nodules. It might serve as a noninvasive alternative to adrenal vein sampling in primary aldosteronism patients with bilateral adrenal nodules. Key Points: • Conventional CT cannot differentiate aldosterone-producing adrenal nodules from nonfunctioning nodules. • Extracellular volume of adrenal aldosterone-producing nodules was significantly lower than that of nonfunctioning nodules and normal adrenal glands. It can accurately differentiate between aldosterone-producing and nonfunctioning adrenal nodules. • Extracellular volume may be a novel, noninvasive biomarker alternative to adrenal vein sampling for determining the functional status of bilateral adrenal nodules in patients with primary aldosteronism. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Lignin is extensively studied to be used as an energy storage material due to its intrinsic catechin structure. However, the limited content of catechin groups in industrial lignin is not enough to satisfy the demand for highly charged storage devices. Herein, the pseudocapacitance of lignin itself is further improved by demethylation and cleavage of aryl ether bonds of alkali lignin (AL) using the HBr/LiBr system. The phenolic hydroxyl (Ar-OH) group content of the demethylation alkali lignin (DAL, up to 2.99 mmol∙L−1) is 1.85 times higher than that of AL. The as-prepared DAL@ reduced graphene oxide (rGO) composites obtained from DAL and graphene oxide (GO) showed excellent energy storage capacity (414.5 F∙g−1), which increased by 96.60% compared to the AL@rGO composites. More significantly, the DAL@rGO materials displayed excellent rate capacity, and its capacitance retention rate reached 76.91%. Therefore, this strategy of structural modification of lignin is effective for improving its energy storage performance, which will provide a possibility for the development of lignin into higher-performance energy storage materials. [Display omitted] • Lignin modification constructs more catechol structures to improve its pseudocapacitance. • The treated lignin Ar-OH content is 1.85 times higher than alkali lignin. • 96.6 % improvement in specific capacitance of supercapacitors. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Under the guidance of emission peak and carbon neutrality, flow battery has application prospects as a large-scale energy storage technology. As the most abundant aromatic compound in nature, lignin is rich in quinone groups and is a potential organic flow battery electrolyte material. In this work, density functional theory (DFT) is used to calculate the redox potential of lignin monomers (coniferaldehyde and sinapaldehyde), and the rationality of the simulation results are verified via cyclic voltammetry (CV). The results show that the lignin monomers realize energy storage through the structural transformation between hydroquinone (QH 2) and quinone (Q) in the redox process. At a current density of 40 mAcm−2, the open circuit voltage of 0.01 mol/L coniferous aldehyde can reach 1.0 V, and the volumetric capacitance can reach 145 mAh·L−1. After 200 cycles of charging and discharging, the capacitance still retains 87.4%, and the coulombic efficiency remains at 99.0%. The open circuit voltage can reach 1.5 V, at a current density of 10 mA·cm−2 of 0.01 mol/L. The volumetric capacity reaches 105mAh·L−1 and remains 75.0% after 200 cycles of cycling. DFT can predict the oxidation-reduction potential of lignin electrolyte and provide theoretical guidance for the application of lignin in the field of flow battery energy storage. • Lignin monomers are introduced as active materials for RFBs. • The energy storage mechanism of lignin as electrolyte materials is explained via calculation through DFT. • G group in lignin as electrolyte has higher capacitance with better electrochemical activity than S group. • S group in lignin as electrolyte has long lifetime with better chemical stability than G group. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

• Total water content measurement method in frozen soil using AHFO-FBG is proposed. • The feasibility and reliability of this method are verified by in-situ test. • AHFO-FBG technology can realize the freezing depth estimation of frozen soil. • AHFO-FBG technology can quantify the total water content of seasonally frozen soil. • AHFO-FBG sensors provide a new technical means to study the seasonally frozen soil. Actively heated fiber-optic (AHFO) method has become a research focus for soil water content measurement in recent years due to its advantages such as small size, distributed measurement and good durability. However, the AHFO method is presently coupled to distributed temperature sensing (AHFO-DTS) which is inevitably limited by low temperature measurement accuracy and spatial resolution. Furthermore, the existing studies about AHFO method do not consider the existence of frozen soil caused by temperature changes, which further limits its application in the field. Here a new method for total water content measurement in frozen soil using actively heated fiber Bragg grating (AHFO-FBG) sensing is proposed for the first time, which directly determines the calibration formulas of frozen soil under different soil temperatures from the calibration formula of unfrozen soil. Moreover, the feasibility and reliability of AHFO-FBG technology are proved through laboratory calibration tests and in-situ monitoring data of Chinese loess, and the temporal and spatial distribution of total water content in shallow seasonally frozen loess is also revealed. It is suggested that the AHFO-FBG technology can complement with the traditional techniques to achieve quasi-distributed and in-situ total water content monitoring in seasonally frozen soil. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

[Display omitted] • Lignosulfonate (LS) was an excellent dispersant for hexagonal boron nitride (h-BN) since its phenolic hydroxyl groups and three-dimensional structure. • Three-dimensional thermally conductive pathways were well built and optimized when the h-BN/cellulose nanofiber (CNF) ratio was 3:1 (w/w). • The through-plane thermal conductivity of LS-BN/CNF/polyvinyl alcohol (PVA) composite was high up to 1.22 W/mK. • This LS-BN/CNF/PVA composite held great practical potentials in thermal interface materials as a key building block. Hexagonal boron nitride (h-BN) is an excellent thermally conductive and electrically insulative material. However, the formation of heat transfer pathways of h-BN in thermal interface materials is restricted due to its poor aqueous dispersity. Herein, water-soluble lignosulfonate (LS) is used to promote the dispersion of h-BN, the phenolic hydroxyl and three-dimensional structure of LS could form hydrogen bonding or steric hindrance with h-BN under ultrasound treatment. After mixing with cellulose nanofiber (CNF), the three-dimensional thermally conductive pathways are built in LS-BN/CNF aerogel through freeze-drying. The results show that the through-plane thermal conductivity of LS-BN/CNF/PVA composite with 0.2 wt% LS (LS0.2-BN/CNF/PVA) exceeds 1.22 W/mK when the h-BN/CNF ratio is 3:1 (w/w), which is 6.1-fold of that of PVA film (0.20 W/mK). The initial decomposition temperature and tensile strength of LS0.2-BN/CNF/PVA composite are 205 °C and 38.5 MPa, respectively, demonstrating acceptable thermal stability and mechanical properties for electronics as thermal interface and packing material. Overall, this work put forwards an effective approach to disperse h-BN and paves the way in developing high-performance thermal interface materials. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Purpose: To investigate the feasibility of quantitative MRI in the differentiation of bladder paraganglioma from bladder leiomyoma. Methods: From 2014 to 2021, 11 patients with bladder paraganglioma and 14 patients with bladder leiomyoma confirmed by surgical pathology were retrospectively collected. All patients underwent multiparametric scanning with a 3.0 T MR system. Quantitative parameters including the SI-ratio on T1WI between the solid component of tumours and piriformis, ADC value and E-rate of the solid component of tumours were assessed. Independent sample t test or Mann–Whitney U test was used to compare these parameters between the two groups. The diagnostic efficiency of the parameters was examined using ROC curve analysis and the DeLong test. Results: There were significant differences in SI-ratio on T1WI (P < 0.001), ADC value (P = 0.002) and the E-rate (P = 0.040) between the paraganglioma group and the leiomyoma group. The cutoff value of SI-ratio on 3 leiomyoma was 1.241, and the AUC was 1.000 (0.858–1.000). The cutoff value of the ADC value was 0.979 × 10−3mm2/s, and the AUC was 0.907 (0.717–0.987). The cutoff value of E-rate was 98.7%, and the AUC was 0.714 (0.495–0.878). The AUCs of the SI-ratio on T1WI and ADC value were significantly higher than the E-rate AUC (P = 0.015 and 0.034, respectively). Conclusion: Quantitative MRI can effectively distinguish bladder paraganglioma from bladder leiomyoma with the SI-ratio on T1WI or ADC value. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Lignin, as the sole renewable aromatic resource in nature, has great potential for replacing fossil resources. However, the complexity of its structure limits its high value utilization, and the molecular weight distribution and dissolution behavior of lignin in alkaline solutions is still unclear. In this study, a conventional lignin separation during the pulping process in an alkaline hydrothermal system was performed by controlling the amount of NaOH, reaction temperature and holding time. Various analysis methods, including GPC, 2D–HSQC NMR and FTIR were used to study the characteristics of lignin fragments dissolved from wood. We were aiming to understand the rule of lignin dissolution and the recondensation mechanism during the process. The results showed dissolution of lignin due to ether bond fracturing by OH− attacking the Cα or Cβ positions of the side chain with penetration of NaOH, and the lignin fragments in solution recondensed into complex lignin with more stable C–C bonds. The experimental results also prove that the average molecular weight increased from 4337 g/mol to 11,036 g/mol and that holding time from 60 min to 120 min at 150 °C with 14 wt% of NaOH. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

[Display omitted] • Raman spectroscopy serves as a reliable, cost-effective, and rapid method for measuring composition of human bones. • Raman spectra can be used to predict bone mineral density of human bones accurately. • Raman spectroscopy holds great potential in the clinical diagnosis of osteoporosis in human. Osteoporosis is a significant health concern. While multiple techniques have been utilized to diagnose this condition, certain limitations still persist. Raman spectroscopy has shown promise in predicting bone strength in animal models, but its application to humans requires further investigation. In this study, we present an in vitro approach for predicting osteoporosis in 10 patients with hip fractures using Raman spectroscopy. Raman spectra were acquired from exposed femoral heads collected during surgery. Employing a leave-one-out cross-validated linear discriminant analysis (LOOCV-LDA), we achieved accurate classification (90 %) between osteoporotic and osteopenia groups. Additionally, a LOOCV partial least squares regression (PLSR) analysis based on the complete Raman spectra demonstrated a significant prediction (r2 = 0.84, p < 0.05) of bone mineral density as measured by dual X-ray absorptiometry (DXA). To the best of our knowledge, this study represents the first successful demonstration of Raman spectroscopy correlating with osteoporotic status in humans. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Rice starch (RS) and soy protein (SP) were mixed at various ratios and the physicochemical, rheological and tribological properties of the resulted pastes were analyzed. Microscopy and spectral techniques were applied to follow the structural changes during cooling and heating processes. Higher proportion of SP resulted in lower swelling power. According to DSC and RVA results, SP inhibited the gelatinization of starch, leading to higher pasting temperature; the peak, trough, final viscosities, set back and enthalpy changes were decreased with increasing SP concentration. All the samples presented a shear thinning behavior and the mixtures with soy proteins showed lower viscosity, yield stress and consistency coefficient than pure starch paste. The creep-recovery test showed that the addition of soy proteins resulted in more liquid-like mixtures, causing weakening of instantaneous elastic recovery. The combination of rice starch and soy proteins increased the friction, compared with their individual components, except RS/SP 9/1 at sliding speed >20 mm/s. According to the microstructure and spectra analysis, the soy protein adhered on the surface of starch granules, which might have hindered the leaching of amylopectin; and the association between starch and soy proteins mainly occurred when the starch granules were gelatinized, which could be reinforced during starch retrogradation. • Rice starch (RS)/ soy protein (SP) mixtures were studied at a wide range of ratio. • SP inhibited the gelatinization and reduced viscosity of RS paste. • Prominent association between RS and SP occurred during retrogradation. • Friction of mixtures were generally higher than individual components. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Herein, a novel thiourea modified Fe 3 O 4 /graphene oxide magnetic nanocomposite (TMGO) is first constructed for absorbing a dye named Coomassie brilliant blue (CBB) from aqueous solutions. The as-prepared adsorbent is characterized by an X-ray powder diffractometer (XRD), A Fourier transform infrared spectrometer (FTIR), a vibrating sample magnetometer (VMS), a field emission scanning electron microscopy (SEM), a scan transmission electron microscopy (STEM) with an Energy Dispersive X-Ray Spectroscopy (EDS), and a specific surface area instrument (BET). TMGO adsorbent shows good magnetic response with high dispersibility. At optimized conditions, the maximum adsorption capacity of TMGO nanocomposite reaches 294.4 mg•g−1 at pH 2.0 beyond the initial concentration of the CBB at 90.0 mg•L−1. The CBB is facilely desorbed from the TMGO adsorbent with ethanol, which makes the realization for recycling the dye. It presents excellent reusability and maintains outstanding absorbing/desorbing properties after recycled 7 times. This research provides a new strategy for effectively recycling adsorbent and recovering CBB dye in one system. • Fe 3 O 4 @GO-thiourea (TMGO), magnetic graphene oxide modified by thiourea was first prepared for absorbing a dye. • TMGO presented high efficiency in absorbing and desorbing the coomassie brilliant blue (CBB). • The adsorption principle of TMGO was expounded on CBB. • The TMGO adsorbent showed rapidly absorbing and desorbing performance. • Both the TMGO and CBB can be recycled via the present procedures. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Herein, the chitosan-based (CS) composite film was fabricated via a simple and efficient blending approach by adding poplar hot water extract (HWE), bentonite (BT) and chitosan. The addition of HWE largely improved the UV blocking ability and antioxidant properties of the resultant composite film, and simultaneously a tortuous path was constructed within the chitosan matrix to enhance the water vapor and oxygen barriers after the addition of BT. Specially, the content of HWE at 10 wt % gave a greatly decreased UV light transmittance at 280 nm to the CS-BT-HWE composite film that was 99.36% lower than that of CS-BT film, and the oxidation resistance was 9.65 times higher than that of CS-BT. The mechanical properties and surface morphological observation evaluated by scanning electron microscopy (SEM) and scanning probe microscope (SPM) confirmed the film had a denser structure. The internal chemical structure analyzed using solid state NMR, FTIR and X-ray spectra exhibited the resultant Maillard structure and strong hydrogen bonding that contributed to the improved mechanical properties. Overall, the as-prepared composite film has great potential as food packaging materials, and also provides a high-efficient utilization pathway for HWE. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Mastering the strain transfer mechanism in distributed fiber optic (DFO) sensors holds the key to analyzing strain measurement errors from DFO sensing systems. However, the impact of the monitored structure's strain distribution on the strain transfer mechanism in DFO sensors has often been overlooked in the existing research. To address this issue, a strain transfer model of surface-bonded DFO sensors with multilayered structures was established based on the shear lag theory. The closed-form solutions of the strain transfer coefficient of DFO sensors subjected to uniform, parabolic, single-linear gradient, and bilinear gradient strains were obtained. With a high-accuracy optical frequency-domain reflectometer (OFDR), the theoretical model was validated by laboratory tests. Upon parametric analysis, suggestions were further offered about designing and installing DFO sensors. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

• A novel strain sensing cable and sensing system were proposed based on UWFBG array. • Strain sensing performance of the cable and system was confirmed by laboratory and field tests. • Strengthening mechanism of the post-grouting pile was well explained based on distributed strain data. • UWFBG array has significant potentials in structural health monitoring. Fiber optic sensing has been widely acknowledged as a dependable tool to monitor pile performance. However, its applicability is restricted by the limited multiplexing capacity of fiber Bragg gratings (FBG) or the high equipment cost and poor real-time performance of distributed fiber optic sensing systems. In this paper, a novel sensing cable and system were developed based on ultra-weak FBG array for strain measurement of large-scale engineering structures. Through the laboratory calibration and field test of a post-grouting pile, the good strain measurement performance of the sensing cable and system were confirmed. Based on the distributed strain data obtained by the UWFBG array, the strengthening mechanism of the pile was well explained. The UWFBG array and sensing system could realize distributed, high-precision, and real-time strain measurement with a spatial resolution of 1 m within 1.5 km, which has great potentials in the monitoring of geo-environment and engineering structures. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Efficient H2O-induced isomerization of glucose into fructose in 1 h at 50 °C over a novel lithium loaded silicalite-1 (Li/S-1) catalyst was demonstrated with 40.7% yield and 99.9% selectivity. The XRD, CO2-TPD and 29Si/7Li NMR results revealed the formation of the Si–O–Li group on the surface of S-1 zeolite, while the typical alkali-catalyzed reaction of glucose isomerization including the formation of enol intermediates and proton transfer at the C1 and C2 positions was revealed through the in situ FTIR and product liquid NMR analyses. In this catalytic process, the water-activated [Si–O–Li] group facilitates the polarization of α-carbon-linked carbonyl in glucose to result in the production of an enol intermediate, and subsequently the transfer and exchange of proton occurred to finally form fructose over the Li/S-1 catalyst. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Objective: To investigate the diameter changes of Riolan's arch in patients with isolated superior mesenteric artery dissection (ISMAD) and to evaluate the implication for treatment selection. Methods: Ninety-five patients with CT angiography (CTA) confirmed ISMAD were retrospectively included, and another 95 cases with no positive findings on abdominal CTA were included as controls. According to the treatment methods, the patients were subsequently divided into conservative treatment (n = 68) or invasive treatment (n = 27) subgroups. According to the initial CTA images, the prevalence of Riolan's arch as well as its diameter (DR) were determined in each subject, and compared between ISMAD and control cases, as well as between patients with different treatments. In patients with ISMAD, dissections were classified according to the Li classification. Results: Riolan's arch prevalence and DR were significantly elevated in the ISMAD group compared with the control group (83.16% vs. 35.79%, P < 0.001; 2.63 ± 0.56 mm vs. 2.12 ± 0.39 mm, P < 0.001). Patients with invasive treatment had significantly higher baseline DR (2.93 ± 0.57 mm vs. 1.89 ± 1.14 mm, P < 0.001), and higher proportion of high-risk dissection (P < 0.001) than those administered conservative treatment. Binary logistic regression revealed DR (OR = 2.771, 95% CI 1.157–6.638, P = 0.022) and Li classification (OR = 0.107, 95% CI 0.019–0.586, P = 0.010) were independent risk factors for treatment selection. With cutoff of 2.635 mm, the area under the curve, sensitivity, and specificity were 0.805, 0.778 and 0.794, respectively. Conclusion: Dilation of Riolan's arch is common in patients with ISMAD, and Riolan's arch diameter could be a convenient indicator of disease severity and inform subsequent treatment. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Soil moisture loss, crack initiation, and propagation can severely damage the structural integrity, weakening the function and stability of soil, causing various problems in geological, geotechnical, hydraulic, environmental engineering fields. The aim of this study is to enhance the water-retaining property and cracking resistance of soil by adding sisal fiber and polyacrylamide. Laboratory tests were conducted to investigate the changes in moisture evaporation, crack initiation, and propagation process in modified clayey soil during three wetting-drying cycles. Soil mass was collected by weighing equipment and the evolution of surface cracks during the wetting-drying cycles were monitored. The resulting photographs of the cracks were further quantified and analyzed (using image processing technology). Results show that sisal fibers prevent the crack from developing downwards. In addition, the frictional force between soil particles and sisal fibers partially counteracts tensile stress when pulled horizontally, reducing the cracks' openings. On the other hand, polyacrylamide combined with water and soil particles to form agglomerates can reduce the evaporation rate, keeping the soil moist for a long time and delaying crack initiation. However, the soil's cracking resistance and water-retaining properties cannot be improved simultaneously when sisal fiber or polyacrylamide is present individually. Furthermore, adding only polyacrylamide increases the difficulty in the cracks healing via filling during the wetting-drying cycle. The composite of these two materials and reasonable control of the content can effectively solve the above problems. The optimal content of sisal fiber and polyacrylamide for enhancing water-retaining property and cracking resistance in clayey soil are 0.6% and 0.5%, respectively. The results of the study can provide some references for soil improvement in foundation treatment, soil and water conservation, and geological disaster prevention and other fields. • Fiber can amplify the anti-cracking effect during the rewetting and redrying. • Polyacrylamide extend the duration of evaporation. • Polyacrylamide delay the crack initiation. • Composite improvement enhances soil's water retention and anti-cracking. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

• The feasibility of intermediate-boiling solvent as entrainer was explored. • The missing BIPs were obtained by correlation and regression of VLE data. • The mechanism was analyzed from σ-profile, interaction energy and charge density. For the extraction distillation process, the choice of entrainer is very important. Usually, the boiling point of the entrainer is higher than that of any of the components to be separated, while the mechanism of separation of azeotropic system with intermediate-boiling-point solvent as entrainer is not common. Taking the azeotrope of n-heptane and isopentyl alcohol as an example, the intermediate-boiling-point solvent of butyl acetate was determined as the entrainer. The experimental data of vapor–liquid equilibrium for the two systems of n-heptane isoamyl alcohol and n-heptane butyl acetate were analyzed. After the thermodynamic consistency test, the binary interaction parameters of three models were obtained by correlating and regressing the experimental data. The possibility and mechanism of the extraction of azeotropic system by the intermediate-boiling-point solvent were analyzed from the aspects of σ-profile, interaction energy and charge density by the principle of quantum chemistry and molecular dynamics. The results showed that the tendency of hydrogen bond between the intermediate-boiling-point solvent and the azeotropic system was different: one component interacted with each other in the form of hydrogen bond, and the other had no hydrogen bond. The mechanism of the intermediate-boiling-point solvent as the entrainer to separate azeotropic system was verified in the extractive distillation process. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

[Display omitted] • Choline-based DESs was prepared for the separation of methanol- n -hexane. • The extraction performance of three kinds of DESs was compared by LLE experiment. • MD simulation was used to explore the mechanism of extraction process. • The accuracy of the MD simulation was verified by experiment. Deep eutectic solvents (DESs) have attracted increasing attention as green solvents in recent years owing to their potential for use in azeotropic separation and their advantages, such as low vapor pressure, non-toxicity, and low cost. To separate methanol (MeOH)- n -hexane (NHA) azeotrope, three choline-based DESs were prepared using glycerol, ethylene glycol (EG), and urea as the hydrogen bond receptors. The liquid–liquid equilibrium (LLE) data of DES-MeOH-NHA were measured at 298.15 K and 1 atm. The distribution coefficient and selectivity were obtained to compare the extraction efficiencies of different DESs. To further explore the extraction mechanism of LLE, the molecular dynamics (MD) method was used to study the internal mechanism of MeOH extraction by DESs. In addition, the experimental and MD simulation data were compared. Based on the MD simulation, the interaction energies between DES and MeOH/NHA, radial distribution function, and spatial distribution function between DES and MeOH were obtained. In addition, the experimental results were in good agreement with the simulation results, and both the results established that choline chloride (ChCl)/EG(1:2) had the highest extraction efficiency for methanol among the three DESs. Additionally, MD simulation results showed that Cl- plays a vital role in the LLE, and the interaction force between Cl- and MeOH was primarily provided by the electrostatic force. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The chemical inertness of the carbon fiber (CF) surface results in suboptimal mechanical properties of the prepared composites. To address this issue, we employed a combination of tannic acid and 3-aminopropyltriethoxysilane mixture (TA-APTES) grafted sodium alginate (SA) as a medium to enhance the interfacial properties of composites through the growth of ZnO nanoparticles on CF surfaces. ZnO nanolayers with rod-like and flower-like structures were obtained by adjusting the pH of the reaction system (pH = 10 and 12, respectively). Characterization results show that in comparison with the untreated CF composites, in the flexural strength, flexural modulus, interlaminar shear strength (ILSS) and interfacial shear strength (IFSS) of the as-prepared CF/TA-APTES/SA/ZnO10 (nanorods) composites were improved by 40.8 %, 58.4 %, 44.9 % and 47.8 %, respectively. The prepared CF/TA-APTES/SA/ZnO12 (nanoflowers) composite showed an increase in flexural strength, flexural modulus, ILSS and IFSS by 39.8 %, 63.6 %, 47.3 % and 48.2 %, respectively. These positive results indicate that the ZnO nanolayers increase the interfacial phase area and fiber surface roughness, thereby enhancing mechanical interlocking and load transfer between the fibers and resin matrix. This work provides a novel interfacial modification method for preparing CF composites used in longer and more durable wind turbine blades. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

• Inspired by transposed convolution, we obtained approximate ECG signals of original ECG signals based on SDMM, and effectively detected atrial fibrillation on the approximate ECG signals • We verify the similarity between the approximate signal and the original signal. The experimental results show that the approximate ECG signal can be used to detect atrial fibrillation effectively. • TP-CNN is proposed to classify approximate signals. When the compressed signals are 1/10 of the original signals, competitive results can still be obtained compared with the related works of AF detection of the original signals. Background and Objective: Atrial fibrillation (AF) is the most prevalent arrhythmia, which increases the mortality of several complications. The use of wearable devices to detect atrial fibrillation is currently attracting a great deal of attention. Patients use wearable devices to continuously collect individual ECG signals and transmit them to the cloud for diagnosis. However, the ECG acquisition and transmission of wearable devices consumes a lot of energy. In order to solve this problem, some scholars have skipped the complex reconstruction process of compressed ECG signals and directly classified the compressed ECG signals, but the AF recognition rate is not high by this method. There is no explanation as to why the compressed ECG signals can be used for AF detection. Methods: Firstly, a simple deterministic measurement matrix (SDMM) is used to perform random projection operation on the ECG signals to complete the compression. Then, we use the transpose of the SDMM to perform transpose projection operation on the compressed signals in the cloud to obtain the approximate signals. We verify the similarity between the approximate ECG signal and the original ECG signal to explain why the compressed ECG signals are effective in AF detection. Finally, the Transposed Projection - Convolutional Neural Network (TP-CNN) is used to effectively detect AF on the obtained approximate ECG signals. Our proposed method is validated in the MIT-BIH AFDB. Results: The experimental results show that when compression ratios (CRs) are from 2 to 10, the average Pearson correlation coefficients between the approximate signals and the original signals are from 0.9867 to 0.8326, the average cosine similarities between the four frequency domain-based HRV features (including mean RR, RMSSD, SDNN and R density) are from 1.00 to 0.9958, from 1.00 to 0.9959, from 0.9978 to 0.8619 and from 0.9982 to 0.8707, respectively. Furthermore, when C R = 10 (ECG was compressed to 1/10 of the original signal), the accuracy, specificity, f1 score and matthews correlation coefficient for AF detection of approximate signals were 99.32%, 99.43%, 99.14% and 98.57%, respectively. Conclusion: Our proposed method illustrates the approximate signals have significant characteristics of the original signals and they are valid to classify the approximate signals. Meanwhile, comparing with the state-of-the-art methods, TP-CNN exceeded the results of the method for compressed signals and were also competitive compared with the classification results of the original signals, and is a promising method for AF detection in wearable application scenarios. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In order to alleviate the resource and environmental problems caused by plastic film materials, the development of biodegradable cellulose-based films is crucial. Inspired by the strengthening mechanism of cellulose-lignin network from wood, carboxylated lignin (CL) was isolated using maleic acid (MA) pretreatment catalyzed by metal chlorides. Compared with pure MA, the presence of metal ions yielded CL with high carboxyl content (0.34 mmol/g), small size and good dispersibility. CL was then composited with CNF to prepare various CL/cellulose nanofibrils (CNF) composite films. When the addition of ferric chloride was 0.3 mmol/g maleic acid, the corresponding composite films exhibited highest tensile strength (180.0 MPa), Young's modulus (13.0 GPa) and excellent ultraviolet blocking rate (97.0 %). Meanwhile, the interaction forces measured by atomic force microscope showed that the binding between CNF and various CLs (276–406 nN) was higher than that between pure CNFs (202 nN), verifying that CL enhanced the mechanical properties of composite films. In summary, this work constructs a super-strong network between CL and CNF synergistically mediated by metal ion crosslinking and hydrogen bonding, which can be a promising alternative to replace conventional plastics in multiple areas. [Display omitted] [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

[Display omitted] • Highly selective oxidation of SAL to SALD is achieved by electrochemical strategy. • Both high SAL conversion and SALD selectivity are realized over β-Ni(OH) 2 nanosheet. • ECO of SAL reduces the cell voltage and boosts the H 2 production by 2.74 times. • Potential-driven reconstruction of Ni(OH) 2 enables selective oxidation of SAL. • SALD selectivity is highly dependent on applied potential and KOH concentration. 2-Hydroxybenzaldehyde (SALD) exhibits special reactivity in various chemical reactions due to the existence of aldehyde and hydroxyl groups, which also make it a challenge to achieve high conversion and selectivity for SALD production. Herein, β-Ni(OH) 2 nanosheets over nickel foam (NF) at different hydrothermal temperatures were synthesized for electrocatalytic oxidation (ECO) of 2-hydroxybenzyl alcohol (SAL) into SALD. The β-Ni(OH) 2 electrode obtained at 160 °C achieves the best ECO performance in 2.5 M KOH at the applied potential of 1.45 V (RHE), showing the SALD selectivity of 78.90% and the Faradaic efficiency of 87.94% at the SAL conversion of 69.76%. ECO of SAL reduces the cell voltage and boosts the hydrogen productivity by 2.74 times. It is of great importance to find that potential-driven surface reconstruction of β-Ni(OH) 2 enables selective conversion of SAL into SALD. Side reactions including OER as well as oxidation of phenolic group can be effectively controlled via regulating applied potentials on β-Ni(OH) 2. This work is the first report on direct electrochemical oxidation of SAL with high SALD selectivity, and offers a green and clean strategy for highly selective production of SALD under mild conditions. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Microwave-assisted pyrolysis is suitable for biomass valorization with the advantages of temperature reduction and energy saving. However, the lack of deep insight into low-temperature behaviors and scale-up demonstration restrict the possibility of industrial applications. The laboratory studies found that the temperature range of rice straw pyrolysis with microwave heating was shifted to 250–300 °C, and the activation energy was about 40–150 kJ mol−1 reduced compared with conventional pyrolysis. The positive promotion of inter-link for the dielectric loss factor of biomass, instantaneous hotspots, temperature and activation energy reduction were revealed. Based on the findings, an original 80 kg h−1 pilot-scale microwave-assisted pyrolysis Auger reactor was designed and continuously operated at 200–300 °C with a 72% net energy ratio. The energy and economic analysis indicated that the small-scale microwave-assisted pyrolysis is suitable for the mobile decentralized biomass conversion system. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Although the enhanced thermal response test (ETRT) method has been used to determine the distribution of ground temperatures and effective thermal conductivities, there are a number of obstacles which limit the wide application of this technology in the discipline of geoengineering. In this literature, four aspects of ETRT technology were investigated: (a) acquisition of ground temperature, (b) installation of the heat exchange tubes, (c) optimization of the monitoring positions, and (d) the difference in thermal conductivity obtained by the ETRT and numerical simulation. To investigate these issues, a field trial was carried out in Heze, Shandong Province, China, and the corresponding numerical models were built. The results demonstrate that: (i) the conventional methods that infer undisturbed ground temperature using water in tubes have large errors, whereas the distributed temperature sensing (DTS) technique enables the measurement of precise temperature profiles; (ii) the thermal conductivity measured using double U-tubes reflects the soil thermal property more accurately than that for a single U-tube; (iii) it is more reasonable to install optical fibers outside the U-tube sidewall than inside the observation tube; and (iv) it is essential to quantitatively consider various interface thermal impedance when estimating ground thermal conductivities using numerical simulation. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

We demonstrate for the first time that the tunable broadband emission from red to blue can be obtained by gamma radiation in multicomponent phosphate glasses. Gamma radiation causes the increased phosphate‐related non‐bridging oxygen hole center and oxygen hole center defects, which lead to the enhanced emission peaking at 452 nm. Meanwhile, the vibration amplitude of O‐P‐O chain's internal decrease, resulting in the decreased emission at 660 nm. Besides, the increased isolated phosphate units (Q0 and Q1), as well as the gradual decrease in P atoms that make up the main phosphate chain contribute to the blue‐shift of the main emission peak at 616 nm, which directly results in the tunable broadband emission from 616 to 460 nm. The gamma radiation process endows this type of multicomponent phosphate glasses with promising applications in solid‐state lighting devices. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

A fluorescent sensor TPE-TSC with aggregation induced emission (AIE) characteristic is synthesized for detecting Hg2+ by attaching thiosemicarbazide (TSC) unit into tetraphenylethylene (TPE) group. TPE-TSC exhibits intense green emission in DMSO/H2O (V:V = 1:9) solution with the formation of the aggregation. TPE-TSC shows outstanding fluorescence quenching toward Hg2+ over other metal ions due to the formation of complex TPE-TSC/Hg2+ with a 2:1 binding ratio. The detection limit of TPE-TSC for Hg2+ is 1 × 10−5 mol·L−1. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

A series of A x B 1- x Fe 2 O 4 ( x  = 0.05–0.50) (A, B as Zn 2+ , Ni 2+ , Co 2+ ) micro-nanospheres were prepared using a facile one-pot solvothermal method. All products are spinel structures with grain sizes of around 11–15 nm as characterised by using XRD. SEM and TEM images show that Ni x Zn 1- x Fe 2 O 4 ( x  = 0.05–0.50) are microspheres self-assembled by nanoparticles with an average diameter of 200–300 nm, but the sizes of Ni x Co 1-x FeO 4 ( x  = 0.10–0.50) and Zn x Co 1- x Fe 2 O 4 ( x  = 0.10–0.50) micro-nanospheres increase from 20 nm to 200 nm with increasing amounts of Ni 2+ and Zn 2+ . As-prepared A x B 1- x Fe 2 O 4 samples are paramagnetic materials with coercivities of no more than 177.5 Oe. The morphologies and magnetism of A x B 1- x Fe 2 O 4 could be adjusted by changing the amount of A 2+ and B 2+ . [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Whey protein isolate and xanthan gum were used to form pure whey protein particles at 75 °C (WPI-75) or composite particles prepared at 75 °C (WPI/XG-75) and 95 °C (WPI/XG-95) to investigate the relationship between the particle characteristics and lubrication properties of biopolymer particles. A spherical core-shell structure was formed in the composite particles, wherein WPI/XG-75 showed more complete coating by XG than WPI/XG-95. WPI/XG-75 presented a similar particle size to WPI-75, while a much larger particle size was observed for WPI/XG-95. The composite particles showed higher surface hydrophobicity (H 0) than WPI-75, with WPI/XG-75 the highest. AFM results indicated the possibility of clustering of WPI/XG-75 particles. Tribology results showed that WPI/XG composite particles exhibited a rather higher friction coefficient than WPI-75 during the initial sliding, due to the particles clustering or the large particle size. However, similar or even lower friction was observed with WPI/XG-95 than WPI-75 when the sliding speed was over 0.5 mm/s. Particles with or without XG showed different lubricating behaviors with the presence of artificial saliva. WPI/XG-95 was also found to exhibit excellent fat replacing function in the o/w emulsion. Thus, particles with core (WPI)-shell (XG) structure are very promising in fat replacement. However, particle size and particle clustering issue need to be further improved. [Display omitted] • Spherical core-shell structured particles with different particle sizes were formed. • WPI/XG-75 showed the highest surface hydrophobicity and possible particle clustering. • WPI/XG-75 and WPI-75 showed different lubricity with presence of artificial saliva. • WPI/XG-95 showed excellent fat replacing effect in o/w emulsions. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The effect of soy protein components on acid soymilk gels was investigated by replacing 10%, 20% or 40% protein from soymilk powder with equivalent amount of protein from 7S or 11S, according to three stages (acidification, cooling and annealing) by dynamic oscillatory rheology. The final gels after cold storage were evaluated in terms of rheology, particle size, texture, water holding capacity (WHC), microstructure and tribology. Both 7S and 11S could effectively and almost equivalently improve the gel strength at incorporation ratio ≥20%, seen from the rheological and texture results, and enhance the WHC. Particle size (D[4,3]) of the gel was also increased by incorporation of high ratio of 7S or 11S. On the other hand, 20% and 40% 11S reduced the gelation time significantly during acidification and 40% 11S induced coarser microstructure than control; while 7S showed no significant effect on gelation time and 40% 7S incorporated gel showed well organized gel structure. Introducing 7S or 11S as low as 10% could effectively improve the gel lubrication; while high concentration (40%) could induce the opposite effect. Also, 40% 7S postponed the transition from mixed regime to hydrodynamic regime; while 40% 11S brought it forward. Overall, 20% could be a reasonable ratio of 7S or 11S incorporation to improve the gel properties. Image 1 • 7S and 11S both caused positive effect on rheology and texture properties of gel. • 11S incorporation caused coarser microstructure of gel than 7S at 40% ratio. • Low proportion (10% & 20%) of 7S or 11S incorporation improved the gel lubrication. • 20% was a reasonable ratio of 7S or 11S incorporation to improve the gel properties. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

A fiber Bragg grating (FBG)-based aluminum oxide tube packed sensor (ATPS) was developed for the fast detection of the soil moisture profile in highway slopes and subgrades. The novel ATPS consists of an aluminum oxide tube with a diameter of 5 mm, an optical fiber containing a quasi-distributed FBG sensors, a "U"-shaped resistance wire, and a flange. There are four 0.9-mm diameter holes in the ATPS. Laboratory experiments were carried out to calibrate the relationship between the thermal response of ATPS and the soil moisture content. Two laboratory rainfall validation model tests were performed to validate the ATPS for capturing the soil moisture profile in highway slopes and subgrades. During the validations, the accuracy of the ATPS was quantified, and water infiltration through grassy and grassless ground surfaces were investigated. The calibrations indicate that the ATPS can detect and record real-time changes in the highway slope and subgrade moisture after rainfall, and reveal the most dangerous zones that occur at the connection between different construction materials. The average measurement accuracy of soil moisture monitoring was 0.015 m3/m3. Please note that the connection is where cracks form easily and the soil hydraulic conductivity increases significantly. The test results also indicate that grassy cover (lawn) significantly prevents water infiltration during the first few minutes of rainfall (twelve minutes in this study), after which, however, the infiltration rate drops sharply. The influence of lawn on water infiltration depends on the soil structure, hydraulic conductivity, and rainfall time. In summary, due to its small size and fast detection, the ATPS is a portable probe that can be used for moisture monitoring in highway slopes and subgrades. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]