Search

Summary: The advantage of a generalized electric spring (G‐ES) is that it solves the redundancy problem of a conventional electric spring (ES) in the face of critical load clusters. This paper first introduces Hamilton's principle into the G‐ES, derives the mathematical model of the G‐ES, and further introduces the topology of the G‐ES. Next, the working modes and working states of the G‐ES are defined. The working modes are used to reflect the combination of ES power inside the G‐ES, and the power conditions in specific working modes are described using a phase diagram. Then, the paper analyses the power case of the G‐ES to the external system, giving the respective working states according to their internal working modes. Finally, this paper introduces PQ control to the control strategy of the G‐ES and achieves control of the G‐ES working mode and its working state. The results of the study show that there are 100 working modes of the G‐ES, and 76 working modes have a specific working state. The correctness of the working mode and working state analysis is verified with the help of the MATLAB/Simulink simulation and experiment. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The proposed generalized electric spring (G-ES) topology effectively reduces the redundancy caused by the parallel structure of multiple electric springs in a microgrid system. A modeling method for the G-ES is urgently needed to accurately determine the G-ES parameters and to evaluate its transient operation characteristics. The correspondence between Hamilton's principle in mechanics and electricity is introduced, and the feasibility of Hamilton's principle under the smart load topology is verified. The modeling method of the G-ES under Hamilton's principle is discussed, followed by the application of repetitive control strategies on the G-ES. The filter parameters are designed using the normalization method and a simplified parameter design using repetitive controllers was applied. This article introduces the impedance analysis method into the generalized electric spring to analyze its stability under weak network conditions. This work also derives the stability judgment criteria for generalized electric springs. Finally, the feasibility of modeling the G-ES based on the Hamilton's principle was verified using MATLAB and a DSP hardware system. In addition, the consistency between the G-ES and a single intelligent load was verified under the Hamilton's modeling principle. The G-ES stability and dynamic performance under this modeling method meet industry requirements. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Yaozhou Kiln is a famous ancient center for celadon production in China, located in present-day Shaanxi Province. While analyzing its olive-green celadon produced during the Song Dynasty, a common occurrence of brownish base (foot and bottom) was observed. This phenomenon can also be found in porcelain produced at other kilns in China and Vietnam. However, previous research has not systematically explored the coloration mechanism behind it. Through different analytical methods, coupled with reproduction firing experiments, this paper concludes that the brownish base is attributed to the diffusion of iron from the body and sand cushion into the thinly applied glaze on the base, as well as the crystallization formed by the combination of the sand cushion and the surface glaze. Factors influencing the depth of the brownish color include: (1) the iron content of the body; (2) the thickness of the base glaze; and (3) the sand cushion material. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In this work, the single-event burnout (SEB) mechanism of p-GaN gate AlGaN/GaN HEMTs has been studied systematically. The irradiation experiment was carried out based on Ta ions with high linear energy transfer of 75.4 MeV/(mg/cm2), a standard criterion for commercial space applications. It is clearly observed that both the drain current and gate current increase during the irradiation. With the increasing drain bias, the device burns out eventually. Technology computer-aided design simulation was used to explore the possible burnout mechanism. The local high electric field peak induced by the electron and hole redistribution was proposed to explain the permanent damage. When heavy ions impact the device, electron–hole pairs are formed. With the aid of a horizontal electric field across the channel, electrons and holes move toward the drain and gate, respectively. The accumulation of electrons and holes around the drain edge and gate edge induces the local high electric field, which is even higher than the intrinsic breakdown electric field of GaN and AlGaN. The scanning electron microscope results verified the proposed SEB mechanism. This research offers significant theoretical and experimental insights for evaluating the reliability of GaN power devices against high-energy single-event burnout in aerospace applications. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This paper investigates the performance of different forecasting formulas with fractional Brownian motion based on discrete and finite samples. Existing literature presents two formulas for generating optimal forecasts when continuous records are available. One formula relies on a history over an infinite past, while the other is designed for a record limited to a finite past. In reality, only observations at discrete time points over a finite past are available. In this case, the forecasting formula, which has been widely used in the literature, is the one obtained by Gatheral et al. (Volatility is rough. Quant. Finance, 2018, 18(6), 933–949) that truncates and discretizes the formula based on continuous records over an infinite past. The present paper advocates an alternative forecasting formula, which is the conditional expectation based on finite past discrete-time observations. The findings suggest that the conditional expectation approach produces more accurate forecasts than the existing method, as demonstrated by both simulated data and actual daily realized volatility (RV) observations. Moreover, we also provide empirical evidence showing that the conditional expectation approach can lead to larger economic values than the existing method. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: According to the Chinese Pharmacopoeia, the fruit of Schisandra chinensis (Turcz.) Baill. (SC) is an important traditional Chinese medicine that can be used to treat diarrhea. Despite the increasing research on the anti-inflammatory and anti-oxidant aspects of SC, the studies on the anti-ulcerative colitis of Schisandrin (SCH), the main constituent of SC, are relatively few. Methods: The mice used in the study were randomly distributed into 6 groups: control, model, 5-ASA, and SCH (20, 40, 80 mg/kg/d). The mice in the model group were administered 3% (w/v) dextran sulfate sodium (DSS) through drinking water for 7 days, and the various parameters of disease activity index (DAI) such as body weight loss, stool consistency, and gross blood were measured. ELISA was used to detect inflammatory factors, and bioinformatics combined with transcriptome analysis was done to screen and verify relevant targets. 16S rDNA high-throughput sequencing was used to analyze the composition of the gut microbiota(GM), while mass spectrometry was done to analyze the changes in the content of bile acids (BAs) in the intestine. Results: Mice treated with SCH experienced significant weight gain, effectively alleviating the severity of colitis, and decreasing the levels of inflammatory factors such as TNF-α, IL-1β, IL-18, IL-6, and other related proteins (NLRP3, Caspase-1, SGK1) in UC mice. Furthermore, the analysis of GM and BAs in mice revealed that SCH increased the relative abundance of Lactobacilli spp, reduced the relative abundance of Bacteroides, and promoted the conversion of primary BAs to secondary BAs. These effects contributed to a significant improvement in the DSS-induced GM imbalance and the maintenance of intestinal homeostasis. Conclusion: It seems that there is a close relationship between the SCH mechanism and the regulation of SGK1/NLRP3 pathway and the restoration of GM balance. Therefore, it can be concluded that SCH could be a potential drug for the treatment of UC. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background In this study, we investigate the effect of simultaneous fusion of preexisting adjacent spinal canal stenosis on the outcome of patients with lumbar spondylolisthesis. Methods Patients with lumbar spondylolisthesis who underwent transforaminal lumbar interbody fusion (TLIF) from August 2013 to March 2016 were included. The inclusion criteria were the following: single-level spondylolisthesis (L4 or L5) and mild to moderate spinal stenosis at cranial adjacent segment of the spondylolisthesis segment before operation. According to whether the adjacent stenotic segment was included in the scope of surgery, the patients were divided into two groups: group A, only the spondylolisthesis was treated with single-level TLIF, and the adjacent stenosis was not treated with any surgery; In group B, TLIF were performed in the spondylolisthesis segment and the adjacent stenotic level; no spinal stenosis was found in other levels. The patients were followed up for more than 5 years. The general information before operation, visual analog scale (VAS) scores of low back pain and leg pain, and Oswestry disability index (ODI) scores before operation and at the last follow-up were recorded. Results A total of 23 patients were included in group A, and 24 patients were included in group B. There was no significant difference between the two groups in gender distribution, age, course of disease, level of slippage, length of stay, degree of spondylolisthesis, stenotic grade of adjacent segment, and intervertebral disk degeneration grade (p > 0.05). The blood loss during surgery in group B was significantly higher than that in group A (p < 0.05). The operation time of group B was longer than that of group A, but the difference was not statistically significant (p = 0.245). There was no significant difference in preoperative VAS and ODI scores between the two groups. At the last follow-up, the VAS scores of low back pain in the two groups were almost the same. However, the VAS scores of leg pain and ODI scores in group B were slightly higher than those in group A at the last follow-up, but the difference was not statistically significant (p > 0.05). If relatives and friends have the similar disease, all the patients of group A and 87.5% of patients in group B would recommend that type of surgery. The satisfaction of group A (100%) was higher than that of group B (79.17%), but the difference was not statistically significant (p = 0.068). Conclusions For single-level lumbar spondylolisthesis with mild to moderate spinal stenosis in adjacent segment before operation, decompression and fusion on the level of spondylolisthesis only is a safe, less invasive, and economical surgical option, with good long-term clinical efficacy and high satisfaction rates. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The article studies a class of state-space models where the state equation is a local-to-unity process. The parameter of interest is the persistence parameter of the latent process. The large sample theory for the least squares (LS) estimator and an instrumental variable (IV) estimator of the persistent parameter in the autoregressive (AR) representation of the model is developed under two sets of conditions. In the first set of conditions, the measurement error is independent and identically distributed, and the error term in the state equation is stationary and fractionally integrated with memory parameter d ∈ (− 0.5 , 0.5) . For both estimators, the convergence rate and the asymptotic distribution crucially depend on d. The LS estimator has a severe downward bias, which is aggravated even more by the measurement error when d ≤ 0 . The IV estimator eliminates the effects of the measurement error and reduces the bias. In the second set of conditions, the measurement error is independent but not necessarily identically distributed, and the error term in the state equation is strongly mixing. In this case, the IV estimator still leads to a smaller bias than the LS estimator. Special cases of our models and results in relation to those in the literature are discussed. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Multi-level cell storage technology based on resistive random access memory (RRAM) with multi-level state characteristics is more attractive in achieving low-cost ultra-high-density nonvolatile memory. Although a large number of literatures have reported the multi-level state characteristics of RRAM, so far there is no unified model that can well explain the intrinsic reasons for the existence of intermediate resistance state (IRS) and the switching mechanism between different resistance states. Multi-level state characteristics are observed by I–V characteristic measurements on RRAM with TiN/HfOx/barrier layer/TiN stacks fabricated using a commercialized 28 nm CMOS process. Compared to other published resistive switching models, the proposed model based on trap-assisted tunneling is more consistent with the measured. The model can reproduce the multi-level state characteristics based on the mechanism that interaction between defects and oxygen vacancies at the interface of HfOx and TiN electrode, resulting in the formation of multiple weak conductive filaments. Furthermore, the wide spread of high resistance state (HRS) and the switching between HRS and IRS are determined by the distance of tunneling gap. As HfOx-based RRAM will soon be commercialized, it is becoming very urgent to clarify the switching mechanisms of multi-level state characteristics and propose a universal model. Consequently, this work satisfied the current demand and significantly advanced the understanding and development of commercialized, cost-effective, high-density multi-bit HfOx-based RRAM technology. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Covid 19 presents a great challenge and opportunity for remote working, highlighting the need for electronically-mediated leadership in team tasks and performance. What is the role of leadership in improving utilization of information communication technologies (ICTs) in teamwork? Framed within the e-leadership and project management literature and employing a longitudinal field observation method over 8 months that involves 52 subjects and 172 observations, this study finds that (1) first, strong leaders employ a consistent and high-level use of ICTs throughout the whole process of group work, especially at the planning and closing stages of a project. (2) Second, strong leaders alternate the use of various ICTs to match specific tasks at different phases of the project. Two media platforms—team discussion forum and document sharing— stand out as the most important for strong leaders to build trust and execute tasks. (3) Finally, in a project management setting with a group of transient members with clearly-defined tasks and time-sensitive responsibilities, trust-building is a continual and highly significant leadership responsibility that precedes other leadership responsibilities. Trust is built largely through alternating the use of two rich ICT media (discussion forum and instant messaging) with two lean ICT media (document sharing and presentation display). These findings highlight a significant role of e-leadership in organizations which see the emergence of ICTs especially during crises like Covid 19. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Crop type mapping at high resolution is crucial for various purposes related to agriculture and food security, including the monitoring of crop yields, evaluating the potential effects of natural disasters on agricultural production, analyzing the potential impacts of climate change on agriculture, etc. However, accurately mapping crop types and ranges on large spatial scales remains a challenge. For the accurate mapping of crop types at the regional scale, this paper proposed a crop type mapping method based on the combination of multiple single-temporal feature images and time-series feature images derived from Sentinel-1 (SAR) and Sentinel-2 (optical) satellite imagery on the Google Earth Engine (GEE) platform. Firstly, crop type classification was performed separately using multiple single-temporal feature images and the time-series feature image. Secondly, with the help of information entropy, this study proposed a pixel-scale crop type classification accuracy evaluation metric, i.e., the CA-score, which was used to conduct a vote on the classification results of multiple single-temporal images and the time-series feature image to obtain the final crop type map. A comparative analysis showed that the proposed classification method had excellent performance and that it can achieve accurate mapping of multiple crop types at a 10 m resolution for large spatial scales. The overall accuracy (OA) and the kappa coefficient (KC) were 84.15% and 0.80, respectively. Compared with the classification results that were based on the time-series feature image, the OA was improved by 3.37%, and the KC was improved by 0.03. In addition, the CA-score proposed in this study can effectively reflect the accuracy of crop identification and can serve as a pixel-scale classification accuracy evaluation metric, providing a more comprehensive visual interpretation of the classification accuracy. The proposed method and metrics have the potential to be applied to the mapping of larger study areas with more complex land cover types using remote sensing. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Aim: Soil microbial legacy is a potentially important regulator of the associations of plants and mycorrhizal fungi. However, our understanding of how plant performance and root-associated fungi react to distinct soil microbial legacies during subalpine forest succession remains unclear. Methods: A pot experiment of two coniferous (Picea asperata Mast. and Abies fargesii var. faxoniana (Rehder & E. H. Wilson) Tang S. Liu) tree seedlings, using sterilized soil inoculated with the soil microbial legacy of herbs, shrubs, and trees, was conducted in a greenhouse. Plant biomass, root morphological traits (total root length, root surface area, and the number of root tips), the percentage of ectomycorrhizal (EcM) root colonization, root-associated fungal communities, and soil inorganic nitrogen content were measured. Results: Both coniferous seedling performance and EcM colonization were facilitated when grown in the soil microbial legacies of shrubs and trees rather than herbs. Correspondingly, soil microbial legacy favored root-associated EcM Ascomycetes and EcM fungi with 'short-distance' exploration type. The soil microbial legacies of trees induced a greater relative abundance of Wilcoxina, while those of herbs and shrubs resulted in greater abundances of Trichophaea, Geopora, and Hebeloma (belonging to 'short-distance' exploration type). Notably, the relative abundances of 'short-distance' explorers were positively correlated with root biomass. Conclusions: Soil microbial legacy may affect tree seedling establishment and modify plant performance across successional stages by regulating the colonization, composition, and exploration type of root-associated fungi. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Purpose: Soil nematodes are among the most important fauna in soils and participate actively in soil ecological processes. However, whether and how soil nematodes are involved in the effects of tree species type on soil fertility remain unclear, especially during subalpine forest secondary succession. Methods: A monoculture pot experiment of two broadleaf (Betula platyphylla and Betula albosinensis) and two coniferous (Picea asperata and Abies faxoniana) trees, using sterilized soils inoculated with unsterilized soils beneath dominant plants from different successional stages, was conducted in a greenhouse. After a period of plant growth, soil nematode communities and soil fertility in each pot were investigated. Results: Significant differences were noted in nematode community composition under the broadleaf and coniferous trees. Coniferous trees accumulated more abundant microbivores and omnivore-predators than broadleaf trees. Moreover, the contrasting effects of tree species type on soil nematode communities were associated with successional stages, with the greatest differences noted in the early successional stages. In addition, soil nematodes might play a significant mediating role in the effects of broadleaf and coniferous trees on soil fertility. However, the indirect regulatory effects induced by soil nematodes weakened with the successional stages. Conclusion: Overall, our study suggested that tree species type might affect soil fertility by regulating soil nematode communities across successional stages. Compared with broadleaf trees, more abundant microbivores under coniferous trees might contribute to the improvement of soil nitrogen mineralization but not to the increase in soil carbon storage, which might be limited by new carbon input into soils. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In this Letter, threshold voltage instability of p-GaN gate AlGaN/GaN HEMTs under high-temperature reverse bias (HTRB) stress has been investigated in detail. The experimental results show that the threshold voltage increases by 0.62 V after 100 ks stress at 200 °C. Especially, the degradation phenomenon is unrecoverable. A deep-level transient spectroscopy (DLTS) technique is used to characterize the defect evolution process during the stress. Two kinds of electron traps within the p-GaN layer were proposed to explain the degradation, which were generated by the injected high-energy electrons from the gate electrode. One is referred to as fixed charge trap, and another is trap E3 (EC-0.7 eV). With the aid of high temperature, more electrons are injected and trapped in the fixed charge trap, which causes the permanent threshold voltage increase. In addition, the concentration and capture cross section of trap E3 were extracted as well, which are considered to dominate the recoverable degradation of the device due to the relatively shallower energy level. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Metformin is commonly used as first-line treatment for T2DM (type2 diabetes mellitus). Owing to the high pharmacokinetic (PK) variability, several population pharmacokinetic (PPK) models have been developed for metformin to explore potential covariates that affect its pharmacokinetic variation. This comprehensive review summarized the published PPK studies of metformin, aimed to summarize PPK models of metformin. Most studies described metformin pharmacokinetics as a 2-compartment (2-CMT) model with 4 study describing its pharmacokinetics as 1-compartment (1-CMT). Studies on metformin PPK have shown that obesity, creatinine clearance (CLCr), gene polymorphism, degree of renal function damage, and pathological conditions all have a certain impact on the PK parameters of metformin. It is particularly important to formulate individualized dosing regimens. For future PPK studies of metformin, we believe that more attention should be paid to special populations. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Altered joint loading by trauma induces joint degeneration, eventually leading to the generation of post-traumatic osteoarthritis (PTOA). Recent studies have shown that α2-macroglobulin (A2M) inhibits PTOA, induced by anterior cruciate ligament transection (ACLT), pathogenesis by regulating proinflammatory cytokines and matrix metalloproteinases. However, the application of A2M is limited due to high prices. Therefore, the aim of this study is to explore the novel preparation of A2M. The early change of A2M in synovial fluid and serum was measured by ELISA. Ultra-filtered centrifugation was performed to prepare α2-macroglobulin-rich serum (A2MRS). The bioactivity of A2M in A2MRS was detected by improved Ellis and Gollas-Galvan method. The effects of A2MRS on PTOA were observed using immunohistochemistry, safranine O staining, micro X-ray, fluorescence molecular tomography etc. The concentration of A2M in PTOA group was significantly higher than that in Sham group in synovial fluid on the third day after ACLT in rat PTOA model. On the contrary, a significant downregulation of A2M levels in PTOA group was observed compared to the Sham group in serum at the seventh day after ACLT. Secondly, A2MRS was prepared successfully, and the concentration and bioactivity of A2M in A2MRS was significantly higher than that in serum. Lastly, A2MRS not only reduced notably the production of secondary cartilage ossification, type 10 collagen and matrix metalloproteinase 13, but also increased profoundly the generation of type 2 collagen, aggrecan, and chondrocytes' number. Our results indicate that A2MRS has protective effects on PTOA. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Gamma detectors consisting of lanthanum bromide (LaBr 3) scintillator and silicon photomultiplier (SiPM) have extensive applications in various scientific fields. Accurate gamma energy measurement depends on accurate calibration of these detectors. While some studies have attempted detector self-calibration based on the natural background of LaBr 3 , these methods are limited to specific LaBr 3 crystals and lack generality. To address this limitation, this paper proposes a self-calibration method that solely utilizes the natural radioactivity of 138La. By solving for the maximum similarity between the test background from measurement and the standard spectrum obtained from the Geant4 simulation, the detector is effectively calibrated. Furthermore, the application of a series of energy spectrum processing algorithms simplifies the solution complexity of the maximum similarity problem. Experimental results from four different crystals at varying temperatures demonstrate calibration errors of less than 0.8% at 662 keV, highlighting the method's broad applicability and accuracy. Besides, the influence of the background measurement time and the natural environmental background on the self-calibration method are discussed in detail, further illustrating the value of the application. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Canine distemper virus (CDV) is a highly contagious virus that causes multi‐systemic, sub‐clinical to fatal diseases in a wide range of carnivore species. Based on the sequences of the haemagglutinin (H) gene, CDV strains have been classified into 18 major genetic lineages. In this study, we characterized the genomes of CDV isolated from the lungs of two dead red pandas in China. Histopathological and immunohistochemical analyses revealed damage due to viral infection in these lungs. The two strains showed a deep genetic distance from the other 18 recognized lineages (>4.6% at nucleotide level and >5.0% at amino acid level). The maximum clade credibility tree of the H‐ gene sequences showed that they belonged to an independent clade and had diverged a relatively long time ago from the Asia‐4 lineage (since 1884). These results suggest that the analyzed strains belong to a new CDV lineage, which we designate as Asia‐6. Our finding indicates that CDV infections in wildlife in China are complex and are a threat to endangered carnivores. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Root lodging due to strong storm wind is a common problem in maize (Zea mays) production, leading to reduced crop yield and quality and harvest efficiency. Little information is available on quantifying effects of vertical leaf area distribution on root lodging in crops such as maize. Anti-lodging index of root was computed by the formula: ALroot = Mroot / Mwind, where AL denotes anti-lodging index, and M moment of force. Mroot, root failure moment of force equals to moment arm times max root side-pulling force measured in situ by means of the digital pole dynamometer, and Mwind, wind resultant moment of force is estimated with vertical leaf area distribution and wind speed. Two maize cultivars were examined at 5 different growth stages from V8 to physiological maturity in 2019 and 2020, in Qingdao, China. Root anti-lodging index in tested cultivars fluctuated to a small extent within any year during whole growth period excluding at V8, while there was an inter-annual shift in index means (1.23 vs 0.84). Both root failure moment and wind resultant moment increased first and then decreased with the growth stage, and their influences on root anti-lodging index varied with the year. At wind grade 6, effect sizes, as contribution to root anti-lodging index, of root moment and wind moment were respectively 0.88 and 0.98. The difference in anti-lodging index between cultivars seemed to be disappearing as wind grade goes up. Root failure moment of force positively related to single root tensile resistance, root-soil ball volume, root number and total root length, whose correlation coefficient was the maximum of 0.94. Root anti-lodging index of maize proved stable from V8 on during whole growth period, and vertical leaf area distribution played a substantial role in maize root lodging in terms of wind resultant moment. Our findings provide the insights into root lodging events in crops such as maize, and would serve an approach to assessing crop root lodging resistance in breeding and cultivation programs. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Pinhole is a common defect widely seen in many archeological stonewares from different kilns and periods. It is usually a sub‐millimeter pit on the glaze that was believed to be caused by the broken bubbles during the firing process. We investigated the pinholes on a porcelain sherd from Yaozhou kiln of the Song Dynasty (AD 960–1,127), surprisingly, every pinhole corresponds to a flower‐like cluster observed through the microscope. The flower‐like clusters are composed of radial mullite whiskers and ε‐Fe2O3 dendrites, and its growth mechanism were proposed after detailed microscopic and spectroscopic characterizations. The unique chemical composition around the pinholes became the breeding ground for the crystallization of flowers, whereas the crystallization process further facilitates the formation of the pinhole preventing the glaze from restoring smoothness. Our results enriched the knowledge on pinholes and revealed the interesting crystallization assisted formation mechanism, which not only related to bubble rupture but involves the crystallization dynamics as well. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

There is a great clinical need for biodegradable materials. This study aimed to investigate the effects of Mg–6Zn and titanium alloy stapler nails on intestinal anastomosis healing mediated via the TGF-β/Smad signaling pathway, as reflected in collagen metabolism in rabbits. Side-to-side ileo-ileostomy was performed with linear stapler loaded with the two nails. The results showed that no obvious postoperative complications such as abdominal infection and anastomotic leakage were observed. General observation and scanning electron microscope showed that Mg–6Zn alloy nails remained intact in the first week, degraded significantly in the second week, and were little left in the third week, while the titanium alloy nails showed intact substrate throughout the experimental period. Immunohistochemical analysis showed that the expression of TGF-β1 in Mg–6Zn alloy group was higher than that in titanium alloy group after 1 week, but it increased slowly, arrived at a lower level in the third week. Collagen I showed an increased expression in Mg–6Zn alloy group, but decreased with time in titanium alloy group. An enhanced expression of collagen III in Mg–6Zn alloy group in the first week but much lower in the third week as compared to the titanium alloy group. The expression of smad2 in Mg–6Zn alloy group maintained a steady level, while in titanium alloy group it showed a general upward trend. The expression of smad3 in both groups held steady after 2 weeks, then in the third week, it showed a strong uptrend in Mg–6Zn alloy group, while decreased immediately in titanium alloy group. Our findings suggest that Mg–6Zn alloy nails degraded significantly within 3 weeks and could provide stability of intestinal anastomosis in the reconstruction of intestinal tract. TGF-β/Smad signaling pathway may play a role in regulation of baseline collagen synthesis throughout the process. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This paper is concerned with the pathwise dynamics of a class of stochastic discrete complex Ginzburg–Landau equations with long-range interactions. Under suitable assumptions on the weight function and coupling parameters of long-range interactions, we prove the existence and uniqueness of the random attractor for the considered system in weighted space. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In this paper, the ZnO nanosheets @In 2 O 3 hollow microrods heterostructures were successfully prepared by co-precipitation and annealing methods. It was observed by SEM and TEM that the surface of the In 2 O 3 hollow microrods was uniformly coated with porous ZnO nanosheets, which increased the specific surface area of ZnO@In 2 O 3 composites. The In 2 O 3 hollow microrods functions as electron transport channels and facilitate the transfer of electrons between ZnO nanosheets, consequently elevating the base resistance of sensors. The maximum sensor response of ZnO@In 2 O 3 -2 (the molar ratio of ZnO and In 2 O 3 is 5:2) was 269.1 for 100 ppm ethanol at the optimal working temperature of 200 ºC, which is about 30.9 times higher than that of pure ZnO nanosheets (8.7) and 19.1 times higher than that of pure In 2 O 3 (14.1). Additionally, the ZnO@In 2 O 3 -2 composites exhibit rapid response-recovery times, excellent selectivity and favorable stability. The improved gas sensing performance of ZnO@In 2 O 3 -2 heterostructures were ascribed to its heterogeneous structure building, abundant oxygen vacancies, large specific surface area and internal electric field through characterized by XPS, EPR, and BET. • The ZnO nanosheets @In 2 O 3 hollow microrods heterostructures were synthesized successfully. • The influence of ZnO@In 2 O 3 heterostructures and gas sensing properties of ZnO@In 2 O 3 were investigated. • ZnO@In 2 O 3 -2 exhibited optimal gas sensing performances to ethanol. • The enhanced gas sensing mechanism of ZnO@In 2 O 3 composites was proposed based on the analysis of XPS, EPR and BET. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

With the rapid development of electric vehicles and various electronic products, higher energy density lithium-ion batteries are imperative to develop. As one of the key materials for lithium-ion batteries, anode materials with high energy density have become a research focus. Especially, In 2 O 3 has received increasing attention due to its mature preparation technology, environmental protection, low work voltage, and high theoretical lithium storage capacity. However, the poor conductivity and serious volume change during the lithium removal/insertion process of In 2 O 3 anode limit its performance. Based on this, a hierarchical porous nanotube In 2 O 3 (HPNT-In 2 O 3) anode is successfully prepared, in which the continuous one-dimensional nanotube structure of HPNT-In 2 O 3 and abundant porous channels can provide the large specific surface area, accelerate the charge transfer rate, and supply a large number of Li+ storage active site. Moreover, the HPNT-In 2 O 3 anode can maintain a higher reversible specific capacity of 470 mAh g−1 after 180 cycles at 0.1C, improve the cycling performance and rate performance, compared with a granular In 2 O 3 anode. This work provides a new avenue to develop high performance anode materials for lithium-ion batteries. • A hierarchical porous nanotube In 2 O 3 anode is prepared. • The HPNT-In 2 O 3 anode possesses the large specific surface area. • The HPNT-In 2 O 3 anode displays high electrochemical performances. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Pelvic radiotherapy is the key treatment for pelvic malignancies, usually including pelvic primary tumour lesions and lymphatic drainage areas in the pelvic region. Therefore, the intestinal tract in the radiation field is inevitably damaged, a phenomenon clinically referred to as radiation enteritis, and diarrhoea is the most common clinical symptom of radiation enteritis. Therefore, it is necessary to study the mechanism of radiation-induced diarrhoea. It has been found that the gut microbiome plays an important role in the development of diarrhoea in response to pelvic radiotherapy, and the species and distribution of intestinal microbiota are significantly altered in patients after pelvic radiotherapy. In this study, we searched for articles indexed in the Cochrane Library, Web of Science, EMBASE and PubMed databases in English and CNKI, Wanfang data and SINOMED in Chinese from their inception dates through 13 March 2020 to collect studies on the gut microbiome in pelvic radiotherapy patients. Eventually, we included eight studies: one study report on prostatic carcinoma, five studies on gynaecological carcinoma and two papers on pelvic carcinomas. All studies were designed as self-controlled studies, except for one that compared toxicity to nontoxicity. The results from all the studies showed that the diversity of intestinal flora decreased during and after pelvic radiotherapy, and the diversity of intestinal flora decreased significantly in patients with diarrhoea after radiotherapy. Five studies observed that the community composition of the gut microbiota changed at the phylum, order or genus level before, during, and after pelvic radiotherapy at different time points. In addition, the composition of the gut microbiota before radiotherapy was different between patients with postradiotherapy diarrhoea and those without diarrhoea in five studies. However, relevant studies have not reached consistent results regarding the changes in microbiota composition. Changes in the intestinal flora induced by pelvic radiotherapy and their relationship between changes in intestinal flora and the occurrence of radiation-induced diarrhoea (RID) are discussed in this study, providing a theoretical basis for the causes of RID after pelvic radiotherapy. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This paper is concerned with the stationary approximations of the stochastic wave equations defined on R n with critical exponents. For a class of nonlinear diffusion terms, we prove the existence and uniqueness of tempered pullback attractors of the random wave equations driven by a stationary process as an approximation to the white noise. For a linear multiplicative noise, we prove the upper semicontinuity of these attractors as the step size of the approximations approaches zero. The asymptotic compactness of the solutions on R n is established by the idea of energy equations and the uniform estimates on the tails of the solutions. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Jingdezhen is famous for its bluish white (Qingbai) porcelains of the Song Dynasty, and those decorated with iron spots are distinctive among them. Herein, iron spots on a bluish white porcelain were investigated using a series of microscopic and spectroscopic characterizations. We found the decreasing iron content from more than 8 wt% to about 2 wt% during the glaze color transition from rusty to brown and finally into green, which built a connection on the coloring mechanism of iron-rich crystallized glaze and celadon glaze. We identified the rare ε-Fe 2 O 3 , a promising magnetic material, in both the dark brown crystals and the triangular crystals in the rusty area, which is its first discovery among bluish white porcelains. Based on these findings, we discussed the coloring mechanism of iron-spot decoration along with the physical form of the iron oxide crystals, indicating the partially reducing atmosphere during firing process. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Warfarin is a widely used anticoagulant, and its S‐enantiomer has higher potency compared to the R‐enantiomer. S‐warfarin is mainly metabolized by cytochrome P450 (CYP) 2C9, and its pharmacological target is vitamin K epoxide reductase complex subunit 1 (VKORC1). Both CYP2C9 and VKORC1 have genetic polymorphisms, leading to large variations in the pharmacokinetics (PKs) and pharmacodynamics (PDs) of warfarin in the population. This makes dosage management of warfarin difficult, especially in the case of drug–drug interactions (DDIs). This study provides a whole‐body physiologically‐based pharmacokinetic/PD (PBPK/PD) model of S‐warfarin for predicting the effects of drug–drug−gene interactions on S‐warfarin PKs and PDs. The PBPK/PD model of S‐warfarin was developed in PK‐Sim and MoBi. Drug‐dependent parameters were obtained from the literature or optimized. Of the 34 S‐warfarin plasma concentration‐time profiles used, 96% predicted plasma concentrations within twofold range compared to observed data. For S‐warfarin plasma concentration‐time profiles with CYP2C9 genotype, 364 of 386 predicted plasma concentration values (~94%) fell within the twofold of the observed values. This model was tested in DDI predictions with fluconazole as CYP2C9 perpetrators, with all predicted DDI area under the plasma concentration‐time curve to the last measurable timepoint (AUClast) ratio within twofold of the observed values. The anticoagulant effect of S‐warfarin was described using an indirect response model, with all predicted international normalized ratio (INR) within twofold of the observed values. This model also incorporates a dose‐adjustment method that can be used for dose adjustment and predict INR when warfarin is used in combination with CYP2C9 perpetrators. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Current techniques identifying herbal medicine species require marker labeling or lack systematical accuracy (expert authentication). There is an emerging interest in developing an accurate and label‐free tool for herbal medicine authentication. Here, a high‐resolution microfluidic‐based method is developed for identifying herbal species by protoplast subpopulations. Moso bamboo and henon bamboo are used as a model to be differentiated based on protoplast. Their biophysical properties factors are characterized to be 7.09 (± 0.39) × 108 V/m2 and 6.54 (± 0.26) × 108 V/m2, respectively. Their biophysical distributions could be distinguished by the Cramér–von Mises criterion with a 94.60% confidence level. The subpopulations of each were compared with conventional flow cytometry indicating the existence of subpopulations and the differences between the two species. The subsets divided by a biophysical factor of 8.05(± 0.51) × 108 V/m2 suggest good consistency with flow cytometry. The work demonstrated the possibility of microfluidics manipulation on protoplast for medication safety use taking advantage of dielectrophoresis. The device is promising in developing a reliable and accurate way of identifying herbal species with difficulties in authentication. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In this paper, we study the Wong-Zakai approximations given by a stationary process via the Wiener shift and their associated long term pathwise behavior for the stochastic lattice systems. We first prove that the approximate system has a unique tempered pullback attractor under much weaker conditions than the original system. When the stochastic system is driven by a linear multiplicative noise or additive white noise, we prove the convergence of solutions and the upper semicontinuity of random attractors for Wong-Zakai approximations as the step-length of the Wiener shift approaches zero. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This article obtains the exact distribution of the maximum likelihood estimator of structural break point in the Ornstein–Uhlenbeck process when a continuous record is available. The exact distribution is asymmetric, tri-modal, dependent on the initial condition. These three properties are also found in the finite sample distribution of the least squares (LS) estimator of structural break point in autoregressive (AR) models. Motivated by these observations, the article then develops an in-fill asymptotic theory for the LS estimator of structural break point in the AR(1) coefficient. The in-fill asymptotic distribution is also asymmetric, tri-modal, dependent on the initial condition, and delivers excellent approximations to the finite sample distribution. Unlike the long-span asymptotic theory, which depends on the underlying AR roots and hence is tailor-made but is only available in a rather limited number of cases, the in-fill asymptotic theory is continuous in the underlying roots. Monte Carlo studies show that the in-fill asymptotic theory performs better than the long-span asymptotic theory for cases where the long-span theory is available and performs very well for cases where no long-span theory is available. The article also proposes to use the highest density region to construct confidence intervals for structural break point. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Public managers play a critical role in making and implementing environmental policies. Pre-service training provides an important opportunity to influence the environmental attitudes of public managers. Nevertheless, we know little about this influence. This research employs a classic experiment to examine the effects of a pre-service training program that exposes trainees to ecological decline in a national training program in Taiwan. There are three major findings. First, exposure to ecological decline increases trainees' pro-environmental attitudes. Second, visual presentation modes sustain the effect. Third, trainees highly motivated for public services demonstrate greater and longer-lasting pro-environmental attitudes due to ecological exposure. These findings can be used to develop and improve environmental education programs in governments. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

• Bacillus sp.wr8 has excellent preservation effect of citrus. • Bacillus sp. wr8 could produce lipoprotein and antimicrobial peptide. • Bacillus sp. wr8 had a certain broad-spectrum antifungal effect. • Its application in the field of food safety provide data support. The aim of this study was to isolate and identify native Bacillus from citrus fruits, with inhibition phenotypes to Penicillium sp. We investigated the antifungal effect of Bacillus velezensis wr8 on the postharvest pathogens Penicillium sp. inoculated on fruits, as well as on the growth of these fungi on Petri dishes with defined media. MALDI-TOF MS was conducted to enlighten the underlying mechanism. Results showed that Bacillus velezensis wr8 significantly inhibited Penicillium sp. growth in vitro. Moreover, secondary metabolites suppressed the disease development of citrus fruits artificially inoculated with Penicillium sp. in 25 °C. Furthermore, MALDI-TOF MS indicated that lipoprotein with the molecular mass of 30.2 kDa was a key component about against Penicillium sp. In addition, the secondary metabolites with antibacterial activity against Escherichia coli showed antimicrobial peptide with the molecular weight of 9.8 kDa. These results demonstrated that Bacillus velezensis wr8 could produce lipoprotein and antimicrobial peptide to inhibit Penicillium sp. and Escherichia coli which has broad application prospect in the future development. Finally, Bacillus velezensis wr8 is to provide data support for the development and utilization of high activity bacteriocin at room temperature and its application in the field of food safety. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Qingtonggou deposit is formed in intraplate environment and controlled by left-lateral shear strike-slip fault structure system in mineralization stage. The ore-forming metals mainly originated from the Yaolinghe Group and the Lower Cambrian, and the subsequent high background values Hg and Sb strata which received the denudation sediment of the original source bed all contributed ore-forming materials. The ore-forming fluid is a low salinity fluid system from atmospheric precipitation and interlayer water. With the Qinling collision orogeny and extrusion in the Indosinian period and the continuous contraction of the Paleozoic basin, atmospheric precipitation and porous interlayer water extracted the ore-forming materials in source bed, formed ore-forming fluids, and migrated upward. Ore-forming fluid is driven by collision and extrusion pressure and circularly extracts ore-forming materials in strata. In the strike-slip process in intracontinental environment, deep and large faults provide a channel for the upward discharge of ore-forming fluids. With the decrease of fluid temperature, sulfide precipitation occurs in secondary fractures. [Display omitted] • In Qingtonggou deposit, metals were derived from the sedimentary strata and the basement rocks, and ore-forming fluids are from atmospheric precipitation and interlayer water, ruling out the possibility of direct magmatic system mineralization. • The Qingtonggou Hg-Sb mineralization occurred at early Late Cretaceous, belonging to intraplate medium–low temperature hydrothermal metallogenesis. • Material recirculation of the Yaolinghe Group and the Lower Cambrian, and ore-controlling fractures play the important role in epithermal hydrothermal Hg-Sb mineralization in Qinling orogen. The Qingtonggou deposit is the largest Hg-Sb deposit in the Qinling orogenic belt, but the deposit genesis remains unclear. Fluid inclusion study indicates that the homogenization temperature range from 139.9 °C to 217 °C and the salinities vary from 0.7 to 2.1 wt% (NaCleq). The δ13C value in ore-stage calcite is from-7.6 ‰ to −7.1 ‰, and the δ18O SMOW value is between 13.6 ‰ and 15.3 ‰. The δ18O V-SMOW value in hydrothermal quartz is from 21.5 ‰ to 24.8 ‰, and the δD value is between −138 ‰ to −99 ‰. The δ34S V-CDT value range from 4 ‰ to 11.6 ‰, the 206Pb/204Pb values range from 18.0351 to 18.5080, the 207Pb/204Pb values range from 15.6390 to 15.6672, and the 208Pb/204Pb values range from 38.1586 to 38.4128. The hydrothermal calcite Sm-Nd isochron age for ore-stage calcite is 98.02 ± 0.42 Ma. The Hg-Sb mineralization is controlled by tectonic space formed by the left strike-slip fault, the ore-forming fluid has the characteristics of medium–low temperature, low density, and supergene mineralization, the ore-forming fluid comes from meteoric water and formation water, the ore-forming material comes from the stratum and basement of Yaolinghe group and Lower Cambrian, the Hg-Sb mineralization occurred at early Late Cretaceous. The complete metallogenic process is that the Yaolinghe Group and Lower Cambrian in this area are the source areas for Hg-Sb mineralization, the subsequent high background values Hg and Sb strata which received the denudation deposit of the source bed all contributed ore-forming materials, with the Qinling collision orogeny and extrusion in the Indosinian period and the continuous contraction of the Paleozoic basin, porous meteoric water and formation water extracted the ore-forming materials in source bed, formed ore-forming fluids, during the strike-slip process in intracontinental environment, deep and large faults provide a channel for the upward discharge of ore-forming fluids, with the decrease of fluid temperature, sulfide precipitation occurs in secondary fracture. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Metal oxides with perovskite structure have draw much attentions in the field of gas sensors because of their easy component regulation by element doping, leading the improvement of gas sensing properties. Herein, La-doped CdSnO 3 micro-cubes with excellent ethanol gas sensing properties were synthesized using a co-precipitation method combined with an annealing process. The phase structure, morphology, and micro-structure of pure CdSnO 3 and La doped CdSnO 3 micro-cubes were examined by X-ray diffraction (XRD), scanning electron microscope (SEM), and transmission electron microscopy (TEM). The influence of La doping on the gas sensing performance of CdSnO 3 were investigated. The sensor response of Cd 0.88 La 0.12 SnO 3 toward 100 ppm ethanol reached 115.2 at the operating temperature of 300 ºC, which was approximately 19 times higher than that of pure CdSnO 3. In addition, Cd 0.88 La 0.12 SnO 3 also showed fast response-recovery speed and good stability. The enhanced gas sensing properties of Cd 0.88 La 0.12 SnO 3 micro-cubes were attributed to their abundant active sites, rich oxygen vacancy, and optimized internal electric field based on the analysis by X-ray photoelectron spectrometer (XPS), UV-Vis absorption characteristics (UV–vis), electron paramagnetic resonance (EPR), and ultraviolet photoelectron spectroscopy (UPS). ● La-doped CdSnO 3 micro-cubes were synthesized successfully. ● The influence of La doping on the micro-structure and gas sensing properties of Cd 1−x La x SnO 3 were investigated. ● Cd 0.88 La 0.12 SnO 3 exhibited optimal gas sensing performances to ethanol. ● The enhanced gas sensing mechanism of La-doped CdSnO 3 was proposed based on the analysis of UV-Vis, XPS, EPR and UPS. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Although the development of punctuated equilibrium theory makes broad reference to the bureaucratic procedures that regulate budgetary decision making and makes reasonable assumptions about the influence of those procedures on the dynamic of resource allocation, little is known about how the specific mechanisms work. This has led to a call to understand the processes that cause friction in greater detail. This study examines how budgetary output patterns may be influenced by governments' strategic fiscal choices. Using an approach that highlights the roles of various fiscal policy‐making processes, we found significant deviations of budgetary output patterns in capital projects, restricted funds, and entitlement spending, thus signifying the influence of fiscal practices on resource allocation decisions. We further examined how fiscal influences may be realized in the political process of democratization in Hong Kong. By examining legislative filibuster cases related to capital projects, we found evidence associating democratization with greater institutional friction and consequently with larger budgetary output punctuations. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Government spending on the environment has long been explained as a reaction to ecological deterioration. Little is known about the role of political institutions and players in environmental funding decisions, which is surprising given the rapid institutionalization of environmental bureaucracies since the late 1970s. Grounded in information processing theories and employing data from Hong Kong, this research examines bureaucratic strategies for influencing environmental legislation. We find three salient bureaucratic choices in budget debates: framing environmental issues broadly to include health and technological implications; formulating rationales that emphasize (potential) performance of proposed projects; and presenting narratives of the consequences of funding decisions. These strategies are part of an evolving political narrative that reflects a broader political debate on environmental institutionalization, and the need for effective strategies to improve environmental funding in governments. Our findings contribute to understanding the bureaucratic politics of environmental funding legislation. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Introduction: Glucokinase (GK) plays a pivotal role in maintaining glucose homeostasis; globalagliatin, a newly developed drug, is a GK activator (GKA). This study constitutes a randomized, open-label, two-cycle, two-crossover, single-dose, phase I clinical trial conducted at a single center with healthy Chinese volunteers, aiming to examine the influence of a high-fat meal on the pharmacokinetics (PK) of orally administered globalagliatin. Methods: Twenty-four healthy volunteers were randomly divided into two groups, with a washout period of 16 days between the two cycles. The first cycle involved Group 1 volunteers who were orally administered globalagliatin 80 mg with 240 mL of water while fasting on Day 1. In contrast, Group 2 volunteers began oral administration of globalagliatin 80 mg with 240 mL of water, 30 min after consuming a high-fat meal (where high-fat content contributed to 54% of the total calories; the high-calorie meal amounted to 988.4 kcal). After the washout period, both groups of volunteers entered the second cycle of drug administration, with meals and medication being swapped on Day 17. Each volunteer collected blood samples at the following time points: 0 h (within 1 h before administration), and 0.5, 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 8, 12, 24, 48, 72, 96, 120, and 168 h after administration on both trial Day 1 and Day 17. The primary and secondary PK parameters were collected. The validated liquid chromatography-tandem mass spectrometry (LC-MS/MS) method was used to determine the concentration of globalagliatin in collected plasma samples, and the results were analyzed using Phoenix WinNonlin software. Safety evaluation was conducted by detecting or observing various adverse events (AEs) and serious AEs (SAEs). Results: All 24 healthy Chinese volunteers enrolled completed the study and underwent PK analysis. The maximum concentration (Cmax; ng/mL), area under the plasma concentration-time curve (AUC) from time zero to time of the last quantifiable concentration (AUCt; h·ng/mL), and AUC from time zero extrapolated to infinity (AUC∞; h·ng/mL) of fasting administration were 22.35 ± 7.02, 725.74 ± 303.04, and 774.07 ± 343.89, respectively, while the Cmax, AUCt, and AUC∞ administered after a high-fat meal were 28.95 ± 12.60, 964.84 ± 333.99, and 1031.28 ± 392.80, respectively. The geometric mean ratios of Cmax, AUCt, and AUC∞ for high-fat meal/fasting administration of globalagliatin were 124.81%, 135.24%, and 135.42%, respectively, with 90% confidence intervals of 109.97–141.65, 124.24–147.20, and 124.42–147.39, respectively. Compared with the fasting state, healthy volunteers who consumed a high-fat meal showed a 24.8% increase in Cmax, a 35.2% increase in AUCt, and a 35.4% increase in AUC∞. The geometric mean of Tmax was 4.69 h under fasting conditions and 5.93 h in a high-fat state, with a median of 4.98 h. Among the 24 enrolled volunteers, 9 cases (37.5%) had 11 AEs, and 6 cases (25.0%) had 7 adverse drug reactions (ADRs) after medication, all of which were cured or improved without taking any treatment measures. There were no SAEs in this study, no volunteers withdrew from the study due to AEs or ADRs, and no hypoglycemic events occurred during the trial. Conclusion: A high-fat meal increased the Cmax, AUCt, and AUC∞ of globalagliatin compared with fasting conditions in healthy Chinese adult volunteers. Meanwhile, globalagliatin showed favorable safety and tolerability under fasting or high-fat meal conditions. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Graphical abstract Highlights • GNP-modified cement mortars were fabricated. • Dispersant stabilizes GNP-solution suspensions. • Interactions between GNPs and cement grains optimize GNP content. • Electric conductivity of GNP-modified cement mortars obeys a percolation model. • Geometric, filling and interfacial effects dominate piezoresistive sensitivity. Abstract Piezoresistive cement-based composites, as a type of self-sensing materials, are urgently needed for developing smart buildings. Herein the effect of graphene nanoplatelets (GNPs) on the pore structure, microstructure, mechanical and piezoresistive properties of cement mortar was investigated. A four-probe method was used to quantitatively assess the piezoresistive properties of the GNP-modified cement mortars under cyclic compressions. Results show that appropriate incorporations of GNPs in cement mortars can densify the microstructure and enhance the mechanical properties. The changes in electric conductivity against GNP content follow a percolation regime. The extents and rates of piezoresistive reactions have no simple correlations with GNP contents and loading levels. The mechanisms of piezoresistive reaction are associated with the elastic deformation and interfacial conductance between GNPs and material matrix. However, the interfacial conductance only works in moderate GNP contents. The results and findings of this study may pave a wide path for the uses of cement-based piezoresistive composites in developing self-health monitoring buildings and infrastructures in the future. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Mercury entrapment in a porous material after mercury intrusion porosimetry (MIP) test is widely reported, yet the characterization of the entrapped mercury remains unclear. This study reported an experimental investigation on the entrapped mercury in a porous cement paste with/without surface-conformance control determined by X-ray computed tomography (X-CT). MIP tests were performed under three different maximum intrusion pressures. Results show that the surface-conformance control can substantially depress the first rise of throat size distributions and lower the threshold throat sizes. The entrapped mercury drops can be easily traced by X-CT due to the high mass attenuation coefficient of mercury. Both the entrapped and released mercury drops only occupy the limited volume fraction of the intruded pores. The surface conformance can decrease the mercury volume released from the pores. The findings of this study provide insights in better pore structure characterization of porous cement-based materials. • A post-MIP X-CT testing scheme was developed; • Maximum intrusion pressure and surface conformance were considered in the MIP tests; • Surface conformance can depress the first rise of MIP and narrow the threshold pore size; • X-CT can trace the entrapped and released mercury drops; • The findings of this study provide insights in pore structure characterization. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Purpose To investigate the effects of methylene blue (MB) on the viability and secretory phenotype of rat nucleus pulposus (NP) cells in vitro. Methods Rat NP cells were isolated, cultured, and treated with different MB concentrations (0–6.25 ng/mL) for different lengths of time. We evaluated the changes in cell morphology and cell viability. We also examined the cells for expression of collagen II, aggrecan, matrix metalloproteinase (MMP)-3, MMP-9, and inducible nitric oxide synthase (iNOS). Results After 2.5 to 6.25 ng/mL MB induced for 6 hours, numerous NP cells were dyed blue and rounded up. The adherent cell number was reduced by MB treatment. The viability of rat NP cells was significantly inhibited by MB in a dose- and time-dependent manner. Treatment with a very low dose of MB (1.5625 ng/mL) resulted in lower expression of collagen II and aggrecan and higher expression of MMP-3, MMP-9, and iNOS in rat NP cells. Conclusions Rat NP cells exposed in vitro to MB significantly reduced their viability. Moreover, MB upregulated catabolism gene expression and downregulated anabolism gene expression in rat NP cells. These results suggest MB may be harmful to NP cells. The dose of intradiskal injected MB should be as low as possible to prevent or limit the damage to intervertebral disks. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Abstract Networks are increasingly popular in dealing with dynamic and complex environmental policy issues, including pollution control and abatement, which require solutions for collaborative and innovative actions involving multiple institutions or entities. Effective network implementation produces better environmental policy outcomes, but little is known about how to improve network implementation. Framed in the network implementation capacity-building approach, this study examines what strategies are adopted by network administrators to improve implementation, and how these strategies work. Evidence from two environmental financing networks in China shows that strategies designed to mobilize resources and maintain network long-term stability improve network implementation. We call for a research agenda that emphasizes network implementation capacity-building in emerging economies where collaborative activities are desired to pool resources and expertise in face of resource shortage and daunting environmental challenges. Highlights • Networks are increasingly popular in environmental governance of emerging economies. • Success of network implementation depends on strategies adopted by network management. • The strategy designed to mobilize resources improves network implementation. • The strategy designed to maintain long-term stability improves network implementation. • Network capacity building is a key in improving network implementation. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Raman spectra of InPBi alloys with bismuth amount 0.3%-2.0% were measured under hydrostatic pressure in diamond anvil cell up to ∼4 GPa at room temperature. Two bismuth related Raman modes were identified and their evolutions under pressure were studied. The linear pressure coefficients of these two modes are determined to be 1.292 and 2.169 cm-1/GPa, respectively. The different behaviors of these two modes under pressure suggest that they may have distinct origins. InP related Raman modes were also investigated including two InP related modes caused by Bi doping. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Highlights • High frequency oscillation of intravesical pressure is related to the external urethral sphincter burst activity. • The distribution of 5-HT2A receptors was significant denser than that of 5-HT2C receptors in lumbosacral cord motoneurons. • ketanserin has effect on micturition via the 5-HT2A receptors in lumbosacral cord motoneurons. Abstract Objectives This study aimed to investigate the effects of ketanserin on micturition mediated via the 5-HT 2A receptor in the motoneuron nucleus of the Lumbosacral cord, as reflected in high frequency oscillations (HFOs) of intravesical pressure and the external urethral sphincter electromyogram (EUS-EMG) in anesthetized male rats. Methods： Male Sprague-Dawley rats were used. Cystometry and EUS-EMG were performed in all rats under urethane anesthesia to examine the variations after successive intrathecal (i.t.) administration of various doses of ketanserin into the lumbosacral cord. Immunofluorescence staining and Western blotting were made to observe the distribution of 5-HT2 A and −2C receptors in the lumbosacral cord motor neurons. Results Compared to the controls, ketanserin-treated rats showed a declined trend of dose-dependent manner in the HFOs, in accordance with the variation of EUS-EMG, while decreased micturition volume, voiding efficiency, and increased post-void residual volume was only observed at the dose of 0.1 mg/kg. The effects of ketanserin on the HFO and EUS-EMG activity were partially or completely reversed by the 5-HT 2A/2C receptor agonist, DOI. Meanwhile, immunofluorescence staining and Western blot analysis showed that immunoreactivity of 5-HT 2A receptor was higher than that of 5-HT 2C, labeling in the lumbosacral cord motoneurons. Conclusions The intrathecally administrated 5-HT 2A receptor antagonist ketanserin can weaken the EUS bursting activity, decrease HFOs, and reduce voiding efficiency as dose dependently. The effects of ketanserin on micturition may be mainly mediated via the 5-HT 2A receptors in the motoneuron nucleus of the lumbosacral cord. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Abstract: The Lanping Basin in the Nujiang‐Lancangjiang‐Jinshajiang (the Sanjiang) area of northeastern margin of the Tibetan Plateau is an important part of eastern Tethyan metallogenic domain. This basin hosts a number of large unique sediment‐hosted Pb‐Zn polymetallic deposits or ore districts, such as the Baiyangping ore concentration area which is one of the representative ore district. The Baiyangping ore concentration area can be divided into the east and west ore belts, which were formed in a folded tectogene of the India‐Asia continental collisional setting and was controlled by a large reverse fault. Field observations reveal that the Mesozoic and Cenozoic sedimentary strata were outcropped in the mining area, and that the orebodies are obviously controlled by faults and hosted in sandstone and carbonate rocks. However, the ore‐forming elements in the east ore belt are mainly Pb‐Zn‐Sr‐Ag, while Pb‐Zn‐Ag‐Cu‐Co elements are dominant in the west ore belt. Comparative analysis of the C‐O‐Sr‐S‐Pb isotopic compositions suggest that both ore belts had a homogeneous carbon source, and the carbon in hydrothermal calcite is derived from the dissolution of carbonate rock strata; the ore‐forming fluids were originated from formation water and precipitate water, which belonged to basin brine fluid system; sulfur was from organic thermal chemical sulfate reduction and biological sulfate reduction; the metal mineralization material was from sedimentary strata and basement, but the difference of the material source of the basement and the strata and the superimposed mineralization of the west ore belt resulted in the difference of metallogenic elements between the eastern and western metallogenic belts. The Pb‐Zn mineralization age of both ore belts was contemporary and formed in the same metallogenetic event. Both thrust formed at the same time and occurred at the Early Oligocene, which is consistent with the age constrained by field geological relationship. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

All–solid–state lithium batteries (ASSLBs) using sulfide solid electrolytes (SSEs) have triggered extensive attentions in both academia and industry due to the feasibility of effectuating high safety and high energy density, compared with liquid–type batteries. Cathode materials with high voltage and prominent specific capacity are urgently needed for realizing lithium batteries with high energy density. Among multitudinous cathode materials studied by researchers, Ni–rich layered oxide cathode materials are considered to be one of the most promising applications in ASSLBs due to high operating voltage, superior reversible capacity and low production cost. However, their physical, chemical, and electrochemical performances in ASSLBs, especially the long–life capacity, are still insufficient to gratify market requirements for electric vehicles, and the targeted review for Ni–rich layered oxide cathodes in ASSLBs is rare. Herein, we comprehensively summarize these issues of the interfacial physical connection, chemical/electrochemical reactions, and space–charge layer (SCL) of Ni–rich layered oxide cathodes in ASSLBs with SSEs. Moreover, the modification strategies of Ni–rich layered oxide cathode materials to address the aforementioned issues are focused on. In the end, the future development direction of ASSLBs using Ni-rich oxide cathodes and SSEs is briefly discussed. [Display omitted] • Interfacial issues of Ni–rich oxide cathodes in ASSLBs with SSEs are summarized. • Modification strategies of Ni–rich oxide materials are focused on. • The future development direction of ASSLBs using Ni-rich cathodes is discussed. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In this paper, MoO 3 (1D) @SnO 2 (2D) core-shell heterostructures were synthesized by a simple two-step hydrothermal method for ethanol gas sensor. The porous SnO 2 nanosheets were uniformly coated on the surface of MoO 3 nanorods, increasing the specific surface area of composite. The MoO 3 nanorods act as an electron transport channel and play a bridging role between SnO 2 nanosheets, facilitating the transfer of electrons and increasing the base resistance of sensors. The highest response of MoO 3 @SnO 2 (Mo:Sn = 0.9:1) at the optimum operating temperature (200 °C) to 100 ppm ethanol was 48.64, approximately 12 times higher than that of MoO 3 (4.04) and 7.8 times higher than that of SnO 2 (6.23). In addition, MoO 3 @SnO 2 heterostructure (Mo:Sn = 0.9:1) shows a fast response-recovery, good selectivity and excellent stability among all composites. The test results of UV-Vis, XPS, EPR, UPS and PL illustrated that the enhanced gas sensing mechanism of MoO 3 @SnO 2 was ascribed to its high active sites, narrow band gap, and abundant surface vacancies. • 1D MoO 3 nanorods@2D SnO 2 nanosheets core-shell heterostructures were synthesized. • MoO 3 @SnO 2 showed excellent gas sensing performances to ethanol. • The enhanced gas sensing mechanisms of MoO 3 @SnO 2 were proposed. • The UV-Vis, XPS, EPR, UPS and PL tests provide support for the interpretation of gas-sensitive mechanisms. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The Sepikou region is located in the eastern Bogda Mountains of the east Tianshan. The Bogda belt is mainly composed of Carboniferous strata, including the Lower Carboniferous Qijiaojing Formation (C1q), Upper Carboniferous Liushugou Formation (C2l), and Qijiagou Formation (C2qj). Here, we report the petrology, geochemistry, and geochronology of bimodal volcanic rocks from the Upper Carboniferous Liushugou Formation, which is widely distributed in the Sepikou region. The basalts, basaltic andesite, and keratophyre have similar petrochemical characteristics and exhibit the high‐Na, low‐K characteristics belonging to calc‐alkalic rocks. These are characterized by the high abundance of K, Rb, Th, Ba, the depletion of HFSE (Nb, Ta, Zr, and Hf), and the slight depletion of Ti. Chondrite‐normalized rare‐earth elements (REE) patterns for basalts‐keratophyre show right‐leaning parallel curve clusters, together with a slight enrichment in light rare‐earth elements (LREE) contents and low heavy rare‐earth elements (HREE)/LREE ratios. The keratophyre exhibits slightly negative Eu anomalies. Compared with the basalts, the rhyolites have high alkali contents, slightly high ∑REE contents, low heavy rare‐earth elements/LREE ratios, negative εSr(t) (−9.1 to −12.0), low 87Sr/86Sr initial ratio, highly positive εNd (t) (+5.3 to +6.4), and low Pb isotope ratios. The fractionated REE patterns with prominent negative Eu anomalies suggest they were chiefly derived from the mantle magma underplated basaltic body remelting from the depleted mantle source. The LA‐ICP‐MS analysis on zircons from quartz keratophyre and rhyolite yield similar ages of 314.9 ± 1.2 and 314.0 ± 1.1 Ma, respectively, suggest that the major bimodal volcanism took place in the Late Carboniferous epoch. The quartz keratophyre zircons, with the 176Hf/177Hf ratios of 0.282897–0.283097, have highly positive εHf (10.99–19.97) and depleted mantle model ages between 180 and 628 Ma. The mafic rocks were chiefly derived from the depleted mantle with the partial incorporation of crustal components. The bimodal volcanic rocks were formed under a continental rift setting. The rift experienced extension in the early period of the Early Carboniferous and its final closure arose after a late period of the Late Carboniferous. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In this paper, we study the Wong–Zakai approximations given by a stationary process via the Wiener shift and their associated long term behavior of the stochastic reaction–diffusion equation driven by a white noise. We first prove the existence and uniqueness of tempered pullback attractors for the Wong–Zakai approximations of stochastic reaction–diffusion equation. Then, we show that the attractors of Wong–Zakai approximations converges to the attractor of the stochastic reaction–diffusion equation for both additive and multiplicative noise. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

β-catenin-mediated signaling has been extensively studied in regard to its role in the regulation of human embryonic stem cells (hESCs). However, the results are controversial and the mechanism by which β-catenin regulates the hESC fate remains unclear. Here, we report that β-catenin and γ-catenin are functionally redundant in mediating hESC adhesion and are required for embryoid body formation, but both genes are dispensable for hESC maintenance, as the undifferentiated state of β-catenin and γ-catenin double deficient hESCs can be maintained. Overexpression of β-catenin induces rapid hESC differentiation. Functional assays revealed that TCF1 plays a crucial role in hESC differentiation mediated by β-catenin. Forced expression of TCF1 , but not other LEF1/TCF family members, resulted in hESC differentiation towards the definitive endoderm. Conversely, knockdown of TCF1 or inhibition of the interaction between TCF1 and β-catenin delayed hESC exit from pluripotency. Furthermore, we demonstrated that GATA6 plays a predominant role in TCF1-mediated hESC differentiation. Knockdown of GATA6 completely eliminated the effect of TCF1, while forced expression of GATA6 induced hESC differentiation. Our data thus reveal more detailed mechanisms for β-catenin in regulating hESC fate decisions and will expand our understanding of the self-renewal and differentiation circuitry in hESCs. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]